How to Prepare Your House for a Sale
As workers around the country settle into hybrid work situations, many are looking for more space to accommodate a work-from-home lifestyle.
20/05/2022
Even with the recent interest rate
hikes, there is still a lot of movement in the
housing market. As workers around the country
settle into hybrid work situations, many are
looking for more space to accommodate a
work-from-home lifestyle. There is also a lot of
semigration happening in South Africa at the
moment, with property companies reporting that
people in search of a different lifestyle are
changing cities. Now looks to be a good time to
sell if it has been on your mind.
The
first step is, of course, to sign with an agent
and get your property listed. After that, you
start with the viewings. For these viewings,
however, there are a few things that you need to
keep in mind if you wish to impress the
potential buyers.
“When you discover
your dream home, and need to make quick
arrangements to sell your
existing home, having an agent host an 'open
day' for viewing is a good way of attracting
potential buyers,” says Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond.
“But do take the necessary steps to ensure that your home is ready
or make a few changes if these need to be done. Something as simple as a few
plants or a well-placed scented candle will help
make a good first impression.”
Ensure that the first impression is a good one
The first thing that potential buyers see when
they come for a viewing is the exterior of the
house. And the last thing you want them to do is
remember it looking drab or as though things are
falling apart.
“A perception of your
home is formed even before potential buyers walk
through the front door, so ensure your whole
property has appeal, not just the inside,”
advises Coetzee.
Take a good look at
your house from the front and see where you add
some curb appeal. Can you add flower boxes for
colour? Does the outside need a sweep and a
clean? Are there any visibly broken fixtures
that you need to attend to?
Alen Ribic
of SweepSouth, a home services platform, advises
that you get these things sorted out before the
first viewing. You will need to do this later
down the line anyway, so attending to it now
ticks it off your list. You can enlist the help
of service providers listed on SweepSouth for
outdoor and gardening help to get your property
in tip top shape.
Declutter countertops
The same applies to the interior, says Coetzee. Make sure it is tidy and remove any clutter or mess. No one wants to see piles of laundry or stacks of paper on your desk. “If you can, remove family photographs and personal items so that aspirant buyers can envision themselves and their new lives in the space,” advises Coetzee. Keep surfaces free of appliances, papers and other items that detract from the focal features you want to highlight. It’s easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves in the house if there’s less clutter and chaos to compete with.
Clear up after your pets
Ribic notes that not
everyone loves animals, so while your fur child
may leave their toys all over your home, it
might not be appealing to potential buyers. Pack
away all the toys that belong to your pet, do a
good sweep, and clean the yard, too.
Anyone interested in the house will want to see
the outside space, too, and if it’s messy and
smelling like your dog’s bathroom, it could be
off-putting to many.
Light some scented
candles or get some air diffusers to mask any
lingering pet smells.
Do a thorough clean
You don’t have to go as far as
washing the walls (unless they are looking
particularly ghastly), but definitely clean your
house before a viewing takes place. You want to
leave viewers with the best impression possible.
Of course, these viewings could happen
often and the last thing you are in the mood for
is to clean every single day. You can get help
from a service such as SweepSouth or enlist
others in your house to share the tasks, too.
Last minute clean up? Store dirty dishes inside a dishwasher and dirty clothes inside your washing machine.
Fit for purpose
Lastly, make sure
each room has a clearly defined purpose, says
Coetzee. If you have advertised your home as
having three bedrooms, but one is being used as
a study, rather remove the desk and office
equipment so that buyers can make their own
decision about how to use the space. “But, that
being said, if you have a room that can be used
as an office, rather advertise it as such when
you list it. With so many people working
remotely for at least part of the week, a home
office will add value to your property,” he
says.
A buyer will be more tempted to
put in a lower offer if the home they have seen
is unkempt or there are features in a visible
state of disrepair. A neat and tidy home with
broad appeal stands a far better chance of being
sold sooner rather than later, and it will also
sell for closer to your asking price.
