Selling property? Prepare your house for sale with these tips.

1. Pricing the property

Many sellers start with the wrong listing price. Do your research from the outset and take your agent’s advice. The biggest problem with overpricing a property is that you will eventually have to drop the price. To buyers, this can look like desperation and may slow down the selling process while people wait for the price to drop further.

2. Appointing a real estate agent

It’s important to focus on the quality of your agent, rather than the initial cost. You should weigh up whether a cheap agent will cost you more in the long run. Look at agent contracts and understand what you are getting for your money – advertising costs, contract length, and commission to be paid on sale are all areas you need to understand before signing up.

3. First impressions count

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you need to be able to look at your property from the eyes of a buyer. So, here's a checklist of things you should do to get ready for a house inspection to make that first impression count.

• Lawns and yards - Remove clutter, cut grass, trim edge paths, weed gardens, trim shrubs and eliminate dead trees or branches
• Front of house - Paint, fix or wash railings, steps, screens and or front door
• Repair any fences and gates and give them a fresh coat of paint or stain if necessary
• Replace any cracked windows and torn screens
• Be sure the doorbell works
• If you have a pool, ensure the water is free of debris and clear and inviting

Remember, the devil is in the detail...

• Replace any burned out bulbs
• Fix leaky taps and eliminate stains on sinks and bench tops
• Remove any clutter to give a wider appearance
• Repair grouting in tubs and showers
• Replace discoloured or cracked power points
• Consider a fresh coat of paint, if a good wall-washing doesn’t work
• Wash windows and sills until sparkling clean
• Oil hinges on squeaky doors and tighten any door knobs that are loose
• Curtains and drapes should be freshly laundered
• Shampoo rugs and carpets
• Remove clutter from kid’s bedrooms (including posters on the walls)
• Consider feeling of spaciousness - store un-needed items to enlarge room size or arrange furniture to make each room appear more spacious and attractive

Things to avoid (that buyers HATE!)

• Animal odours in the house
• Stained carpets
• Cracked glass
• Cigarette or strong food odours
• Too much furniture or personal belongings cluttering the space
• Evidence of damp or moisture in the walls

If you're ready to take the next step, our Buying and Selling Costs Calculator can help you work out an estimate of the costs of your property sale.

If you've got any questions or you're ready to have a chat about a home loan call us on 13 14 22, enquire online or visit your nearest branch today! Our Lending Specialists are ready and waiting to help you buy your dream property. We can also help you with completing a mortgage discharge if you sell your property.