22nd July 2019: How to Prepare Your Home for a Spring Sale

Written by Tessa Hayward for realestate.com.au on 20th July 2019

Emma Olivier spent about $12,000 preparing her house for sale. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Traditionally spring is known as the season to sell.

That means the middle of winter is when the preparation needs to begin.

From decluttering, cleaning, making small repairs, styling the home and choosing an agent, there's much to do before listing a property for sale.

Fletchers director Tim Heavyside said preparing your home for sale was worth it.

Fletchers director Tim Heavyside estimated preparing a home well for sale lifted its value by about 5 per cent.

"You see peoples' reactions at open homes. If a home isn't prepared and you ask people if they are thinking of buying, they can say it just doesn't feel right," Mr Heavyside said.

"Buyers want the whole package."

Nicole Jacobs Property director Nicole Jacobs said preparing a house for sale increased the chances of a buyer forming an emotional connection to the property.

"It needs to have cohesive space so that it is emotionally engaging and will connect with a wider pool of buyers," Ms Jacobs said.

"It is all about the connection. Houses that connect and have been presented really well sell better."

Emma Olivier decluttered 51 Earlsfield Rd, Hampton before selling.

DECLUTTER

Decluttering and depersonalising were the first steps, Ms Jacobs said. This allowed buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.

"Decluttering is also great for the next move as it is an excuse to start packing boxes earlier and it gives you a chance to do an early spring clean," she said.

She recommended renting a storage space or using a friend's garage to store boxes and surplus furniture.

"Make sure you depersonalise, potential buyers don't need to see your family photos everywhere," she said.

Nicole Jacobs Property director Nicole Jacobs recommends meeting with three agents.

CHOOSE AN AGENT

Ms Jacobs recommended interviewing at least three agents.

"Make sure you are asking them the same questions and it is really important you connect with them," she said.

"You want them to understand you, why you're moving, the time frame and what you want to achieve."

Ms Jacobs said sellers needed an agent who would be honest and didn't just talk about themself.

She said agents could provide advice on styling and any updates that were needed before listing.

First impressions are so important.

FIRST IMPRESSION

The adage "kitchens sell houses" is well known in property circles, but Mr Heavyside said first impressions were just as important.

"How it appears from the street is a hero shot that you are going to use in your marketing," he said.

He said buyers often made up their mind from the moment they saw the property.

Getting the facade looking its best was as easy as a thorough coat of paint and a good clean.

Mr Heavyside recommended getting a soft wash professional in to clean the roof, driveway and house.

He also suggested oiling decks, pulling out weeds and using black mulch around plants to make them pop.

Ms Jacobs agreed street appeal was essential.

"A lot of buyers will drive past before they go to an open home," Ms Jacobs said.

"Plant things if you need, mow the lawn and touch up paintwork.

"It is important to get buyers to the door to get the emotional connection."

Emma Olivier hired a double bed for her son's room.

HANDYMAN

There's no better time to fix those small jobs that have been on the "to-do" list for ages.

Mr Heavyside recommended using a professional handyman because "you'll be surprised at how many things they can fix".

"From aligning a door in the kitchen that is skewiff, or regrouting the tiles in a bathroom, or adjusting that handle on the door that is a bit wonky, it is important to make those adjustments," he said.

Mr Heavyside said potential buyers could be turned off by problems a seller had failed to fix. "It is also a good idea to steam clean the carpet if it is in good nick or replace it if not," he said.

"Properties are often repainted before sale as well. Light greys and whites work well."

Before 135/99 Whiteman St, Southbank was styled.

STYLING

One of the most important elements of getting a house ready for sale is to style it in a way that maximises its appeal with buyers.

Valiant Property Styling business development manager Brianna Curphey said vendors could easily overlook the importance of spatial planning and inviting colour schemes and furniture pieces.

"What may surprise some vendors, is that with the property presented empty, it actually looks smaller," Ms Curphey said.

"It can become difficult for the buyer to visualise the layout and lifestyle.

"With a nudge in the right direction the buyer becomes emotionally invested, visualising themselves in the space."

And after it was styled. The apartment sold quickly through MICM agent Hans Fan.

Valiant's senior stylist Matthew Dine's top tip for styling a home for sale was to declutter and then declutter again.

All personal items should also be removed, he said.

"A quick, cost effective cosmetic lift can add massive value to the property," Mr Dine said.

"For example getting rid of dated curtains and that quirky feature wall you painted in 2004, will make a huge difference."

Ms Curphey said tailored packages to style an apartment started from $2400 for a four-week campaign, with two additional weeks thrown in for free. A property with three or more bedrooms started at $3900 for the same period.

Ms Jacobs said it was hard for buyers to visualise themselves living in a property if there was no furniture. And sellers had to know who their buyers were likely to be.

"You want it to feel like what your target market is, for families you want it to feel like a family home," she said.

Emma Olivier believes preparing her property for sale paid off. Picture: Nicki Connolly

CASE STUDY

Three months is how long it took Emma Olivier to prepare her Hampton home for sale.

From decluttering the house and renovating the ensuite, to painting and landscaping, the to-do list was long but worth it.

"We spent about $12,000 in total and the house (at 51 Earlsfield Rd, Hampton) sold for $2.05 million in December," she said.

Ms Olivier said the ensuite hadn't been renovated so they gave it a quick update with a new benchtop, taps, showerscreen, tiles and paint job.

"We hired a storage unit and decluttered as much as possible and sold some furniture on Gumtree and Facebook," she said.

"My eldest son's room got the most disruption as it had a single bed but we hired a double bed to make it look more like an adult room."

During open homes, she would decorate with bowls of fruit instead of flowers as they could then eat the fruit afterwards and it wasn't another cost.

"Make the style as neutral as possible, you might love out-there colours but others may not," she recommended.

"I think it is definitely worth preparing your home as people want to be able to imagine themselves living there."

Visit the REA website with the article here: How to Prepare Your Home for a Spring Sale