1 Preparing your home for sale

When you put your property on the market, your enemy is other homes for sale in your area and price range.  You are all competing for that hot buyer or buyers to inspect your home and make an offer.  Words and your asking price are simply not enough.   Your property is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it's worth the time and effort to get it looking great.   Staging is a crucial detail when selling your home.  It is a well-known fact that presentation is directly related to selling price.

A well-staged home is attractive to potential buyers and is ready to sell immediately. That means more money in your pocket as well as a quicker sale.  This is because they mentally move in and can see themselves living in your home.  

So where do you begin?  First and foremost, clear the clutter from all visible areas. If it does not belong on the floor, remove it. That means dirty clothes, kids' toys, old magazines, income tax files, boxes of books, etc. Pack early and get it out of the way. Ensure that all countertops are free of unnecessary items. Remove most family photos and personal items from walls and remaining areas.

Cleanliness is extremely important, so a thorough clean of your home from top to bottom is a must. Vacuum or steam clean all carpets. Clean the windows and mirrors. Thoroughly cleanse the kitchen and bathrooms. Remove dust and cobwebs from all areas, especially light fixtures. Clean the walls. Where you can, patch, paint or fix any imperfections.

Move excess furniture to empty or underutilized rooms to give them a more lived-in look. Prepare for your future move (you are moving eventually, remember?) by packing and storing unnecessary items. Clean out storage areas that are too full - you want to show full potential of each individual space/area that you have within the home.

Don't forget about the exterior. Tidy the yard and garden so that they are free of weeds and debris. Remove the clutter from the patio and deck. Add flowers for a touch of colour. Consider cleaning and/or painting your front door and/or garage door, as they represent the focus of your home from the outside.

Creating a good feeling about your home will present a positive attitude all around. Home staging will help to create that positive impression and improve the selling process. Spending a little time to plan, and perhaps investing some money on preparing for the sale (staging), will absolutely result in a faster, higher priced sale. Undoubtedly, your investment will cost less than the price of your first reduction.

2 Pricing

There is nothing wrong with ambitious pricing.  It's okay to go for gold and try for a dream price.  It's when the dream price is too ambitious that the nightmares begin.

A property is fresh and interesting when it first hits the market.  There is a golden window of opportunity for sellers. The golden window is the first 30 days.  After that, buyers are asking questions like "What's wrong with this house?" and "Why hasn't it sold?"

It's essential to get your price adjusted to attract buying interest while you're still within the golden window period.  You may have already missed some good buyers but as long as you are priced right within this time, you still have a great chance to secure a top result.  Keep in mind that competitive market pricing is the fastest way to attract multiple offers and competing buyers which is every sellers dream!

3 Method of sale

When it comes to selling your property, there are three popular methods to choose from:

•   Private Treaty (For sale with an asking price or price range)

•   Public Auction

•   Public Tender (ALL offers are placed in a sealed envelope and submitted to the agent by a certain date)
 

Each has its own advantages and it is advisable to speak to your agent about the benefits of each method.

We have successfully utilised all three methods, however we have found sale by Public Treaty (price) to be the most effective method for properties located in the Launceston and surrounding suburbs.

Auction is effective in the event of there being difficulty in clearly determining the value of a property and if it looks like there may very well be a lot of buyers competing for the home.

4 Timing

Buyers for good quality property can be found all year round. With the marketing process having become far more sophisticated than in previous times, the issue of timing is less critical today than in the past. 

The time required to sell property that is accurately priced will typically vary between 30 and 60 days. Prior to placing your property on the market, allow an additional 7 days to prepare both the property and the marketing material.

5 Some easy fixes to make your home more inviting

•   Hide pet toys, bowls and litter boxes

•   Light candles in every room to create a glow

•   Put away toilet brushes, plungers, sponges, toothbrushes and medications

•   Get rid of cigarette, animal or strong food odours in the house

•   Fix any doors, windows or gates that stick

•   Fix any cracked glass

•   Remove any excess furniture or personal belongings cluttering the space

•   Attend to any evidence of damp or moisture in the walls