Five tips to prepare your house for sale.

1. Five tips to prepare your house for sale.
In a tight market it’s important to do everything you can to make your home stand out from the rest.
Before the advertising photo’s are taken and the home is opened for inspection you should follow
these five tips.
Firstly you should undertake basic maintenance, oil squeaking doors, make sure the doorbell works
and the doormat is clean and in position. Repair dripping taps and remove stains from bath and
basins. Fix loose or broken tiles and clean kitchen and bathroom tiles.
Secondly, make the home as light as possible, raise blinds and open curtains. Clean bathrooms, light
fittings, install bright low energy bulbs, and fix light switches. Clean marks off the walls. Arrange the
furniture to make the rooms look big and easy to walk in, but don’t do this at the last moment.
Thirdly, spruce up the bedrooms, use your best bed covers and put cushions and soft toys on the
children’s beds. It is very important to lock away valuables and personal items or take them with
you during an open for inspection.
Fourthly, place fresh flowers around the house along with plants on the veranda as it helps make the
house look inviting.
Finally, it is important to ‘de-clutter’ your house. Removing excess furniture is a great way of
allowing prospective purchasers to imagine the home with their furniture in it. De-cluttering your
home can take some time so it is important to start well before your agent opens the door for the
first open house.
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Written by the REIV 4 April 2009.