It’s an universal truth that estate agents don’t really sell houses – houses pretty much sell themselves, given they have a good location and are in a generally good condition. Any estate agent that tells you otherwise doesn’t really deserve your commission. That being said, a few things are very important to remember when selling your home and entering the property market.
First impressions count.
No, allow us to correct ourselves…
First impressions are EVERYTHING
From the moment potential buyers set foot on your street, it’s all first impressions and the feelings these impressions will evoke. We, at Move Out Mates, as professional end of lease cleaners with years of experience in the field, know a thing or two about cleaning your way right in the hearts of potential tenants and buyers.
Useful Info: Read Real Estate Insider’s guide and see how you can make your house marketable
#1 Ditch The Clutter
Clutter is the number #1 enemy that puts potential buyers and tenants off. Why? Because, even though, people know you are going to take your clutter with you when you are gone, clutter still prevents them to imagine themselves living there. One of the most important things a potential buyer wants is to be able to envision himself and his family living there. Their family portraits on the side table, their personal touches and accessories, not yours. As much as it may be tempting to brag with your taste and bold personality, remember that not everyone will appreciate it. In fact, to most people less is more. So get rid of the teddy collections and everything that can blog buyers’ image. Want to add a personal touch? Make cookies and offer them to everyone who comes to a viewing. The smell of freshly baked cookies will make the place look so much cosier.
#2 Clean the Bathroom
The bathroom is the one room that can tell whether you’ve taken good care of your home throughout the years and if you are a thorough housekeeper. It’s also the one room that says a thousand words and if you’ve been naughty it will show. For this reason, make sure yours is sparkling clean, disinfected and smells good. Add towels and scented toilet paper and natural air fresheners. Make sure there is no mould and mildew in the bathroom – these are a huge turn off for potential buyers.
#3 Clean Curtains and Blinds
If you are selling the home furnished with the carpets, curtains, blinds and upholstered pieces of furniture, it’s important to keep those in good condition. Buyers may want to check out the view and if a pile of dust emerges when they pull the curtains/blinds that’s another nasty impression you will have to make up for. Beware – these build up quickly!
#4 Clean the Kitchen and Appliances
It’s important to keep the appliances you are selling the kitchen with in good shape. Clean them inside and out, order your cupboards well and allow people to open them if they want to view them. To some families it is important how many and what kind of cupboards a kitchen has and whether it will be enough to fit their cutlery and utensils.
#5 Watch Out For Smells
It’s important to watch out for smells, especially if you have a furry friend. You might want to take your pal over to the neighbour for scheduled viewings and just in case to make sure there are no smell that will give you up. According to real estate agents smell and unpleasant odour can significantly reduce your changes for a quick sale, while the smell of a freshly brewed coffee and oven baked bread is way more inviting and creates a lovely first impression.
If you are selling or renting your home and need cleaning, do not hesitate to give us a call: 02 9098 1740. If you are looking for more tips on how to achieve your property’s full potential on the market, get yourself a copy of the “Australian Property Market” book by Mithra Publishing (out in September 2015). For more on the subject read the dedicated chapter, written by our very own Evelyn Norman.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
Tags: cleaning tips, home sellers
