Thinking about selling your home this year?

Luckily for you it’s a seller’s market in many corners of the country right now, however that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the time to give your property a bit of tender loving care before listing it.

A little bit of effort in preparing your property for sale can go a long way in helping buyers fall head over heels for your property, which will ultimately help improve your sale price.

So where should you concentrate your efforts?

1. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before

We’re not talking about a standard vacuum or just wiping the counters – you need to get into every nook and cranny of your home to make it shine again.

Clean out often-neglected areas like garages and sheds and do those chores you might reserve for spring-cleaning, such as window or oven cleaning.

2. Minimise

Get a head start on the moving process by sorting through your things and selling or throwing away anything that is no longer wanted or needed. Getting rid of large bulky items like unwanted furniture will make it easier to present your home for open for inspections, and will save you from having to move so many items to your next home.

3. Work on kerb appeal

The front of a house sets the stage for the rest of the property, so you want to make sure you get that first impression just right.

Tidy up landscaping and make everything at the front of the property look neat and tidy. Clear footpaths and driveways, ensure the front fence is sitting straight and the property’s numbers can be clearly identified.

4. Add flowers and plants

Bring a bit of nature indoors to add a bit of energy to a space and draw attention to areas you want people to focus on. For instance, you may want to take some flowers from the garden and place these in a vase on your dining room table.

Large pot plants are also good for filling empty spaces around the home, or can be used to frame doorways and entrances.

5. Make some small tweaks

You need to be careful of overcapitalising when preparing your home for sale, but you might want to change a few small things to help make your home feel a bit more modern. For instance new light fixtures or fans can bring an older home into the 21st century, or you might like to replace old faucets or door handles.