4 Simple Tips to Improve the Appeal of Your Property

So you’ve made the decision to sell your property, the next step is to get your place looking as good as possible before any photos are taken or potential buyer inspection dates.

The good news is, whether your property only needs a little or a lot of attention, you can start to improve the appeal of your property in these four simple and inexpensive steps.

1. De-clutter

Buyers are generally looking for space. The more space you can show, the more attractive your home will be to buyers.

Don’t expect buyers to ignore your accumulated stuff and imagine your house in its clutter-free state. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to imagine themselves and their belongings in the house.

Tips to get you started:

• Be systematic. Do one room at a time and don’t move on to the next room until it is complete.
• Depersonalise. You want your buyers to visualise themselves in your house, not you living in it! Pack away photographs, souvenirs, trophies, medals, certificates, posters, religious items and family heirlooms.
• Restore rooms to their core functions.
• Clear tables, counter tops and all surfaces.
• Consider storing off-site some items of furniture.

2. Clean

Once you have more room to work, undertake a thorough housecleaning. As well as your regular chores, focus on rarely-cleaned areas such as skirting boards and light fittings. Steam clean your carpets, and wash walls and windows. If you don’t have time to do this, there are cleaning companies that can help you.

3. Patch and paint

Add a fresh coat of interior paint. Painting your walls can instantly brighten up your house and make it appear well cared for. First, patch up any holes, no matter how small. Favour white ceilings and off-white or beige walls with white skirting. These colours throw more light around the room and make it appear larger.

4. Garden work

Spruce up your outside area. Get rid of green waste, trim the hedges, weeds, and mulch the flower beds.

Renovate your Outdoor Space

Australians love nothing more than outdoor living areas, and with the warmer months ahead, it makes a lot of sense to make the most of your outdoor space. 

If you are looking at selling your home in the future, refining your outdoor living areas doesn’t have to cost a lot, but can greatly increase the appeal and selling price of your home.

Provide outdoor entertaining

A good outdoor entertaining space is highly sought-after by buyers. This could take the form of a deck, a pergola, a retractable sun-shade, or verandah.

Also consider the inclusion of an outdoor barbeque and dining area.

Outdoor lighting

In the evening, a garden or an entrance looks wonderful with good lighting. It can emphasise a feature or hide a blemish. Carefully selected lighting can create a wonderful effect that makes your property very desirable. 

There is a huge range of solar lights available that can achieve a wonderful effect without wiring.

Don’t forget to organise the inspections of your home at a time that shows your lighting off!

Car spaces

Off-street car spaces are worth a lot, both in dollars and convenience. Covered off-street parking such as a carport or a garage is right at the top of the list for many buyers.

Landscaping

Defined landscaped areas can add hugely to the overall presentation and desirability of your home – however it can detract if done badly. Achieve a balance between easy maintenance, water efficiency, and hard and soft surfaces to create a landscape in which your property stands out.

Consider the plants you choose, as some are better at certain times of the year. With a bit of research you can have a garden that changes, having different features for every season.