spring is here. getting ready to sell?

10 tips to prepare your home for market

Spring induces a certain energy - a perfect time to get things done. With that in mind we have put our house on the market – crazy days! If you too are selling, you’ll know the process can be all-consuming, so here’s a basic checklist to help you prepare:

The big tidy-up. This takes time. If you can, allow a month to get on top of things, even before you engage an agent.

1. Declutter

I’m not a collector of ‘stuff’ and like things in order. However, the husband and I took the time to go through the whole house and remove anything that wasn’t adding value. It's a great time to get ruthless - rid yourself of paraphernalia you’re never likely to use or want, store excess furniture and recycle clothing. It’s a cleansing process. For professional assistance in decluttering and organising storage check out the amazing services of Ask Karlene.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

2. Spring clean

One whole Sunday was spent spring cleaning the house from top to toe - pesky jobs like cleaning the pantry, oven and storage cupboards. I cheated a little and hired commercial cleaners to do the windows inside and out as well as the carpets. Worth every penny though! Clean windows are essential for marketing photos.

Storage Kitchen Cupboard

Storage Cupboard Organised

3. Maintenance

This was husband’s domain. Paint touch-ups, small repairs like fixing a dodgy door handles, sanding back a door that was not closing properly and arranging for the carpet in the spare room to be replaced. He re-stained the deck, replaced roofing on the patio as it was tired and a real eyesore. Good lad!

4. Gardens

Full section tidy up – get rid of rubbish, trim trees & shrubs, tidy lawn and garden edges, replace dead or unsightly plants. Maintain fortnightly whilst the house is on the market.

Tidy Garden

White spring garden

5. Decor & staging

This is the fun part! We didn’t have a heap to do as had recently renovated. We already had a great base to work with. Getting this right is so important as portraying your property in the best light can dramatically effect your sell price. Many things to consider here - layout, colour scheme, furniture, accessorising etc

6. Create a neutral feel

Purchasers need to visualise themselves in your home. Remove most personal photos throughout the house. Rethink accessories and put away appliances that you usually leave out – apply the less is more rule.

7. Dress each room

This is a job you may want to engage professionals for - first impressions count. Think about room usage - we converted our study/media room into a third bedroom as many people struggle to imagine a space being used in a different way. Make sure all bedrooms are drawn as such on your floor plan as they hold more value.

8. Pot plants and flowers

Green is the new black. I spent precious dollars at the local garden shop on pot plants – adding green foliage to each room. This reduces the money spent weekly on fresh flowers for open homes. Consider speaking to your local florist about your needs – they can give you advice on arrangements that last and may even cut you a deal.

Potted Palm

Simple pot plant

9. Fresh linen

I bought some fresh white towels to use just for staging the bathrooms – not to actually use! Make sure these are in place when you leave the house for the day. I would hide away the towels we were actually using in the laundry basket. Don’t forget, a well-made, dressed bed stages a bedroom like nothing else.

White bed linen

Bath linen

10. Always be open home ready

You need to ensure each time you leave the house, it is ready for impromptu viewings. Use a daily checklist tailored to your needs. It may include things like; spot clean the bathrooms and mirrors, do the dishes, clear and clean benches, put away laundry drying rack, make the beds, arrange sofa scatter cushions and throws, spot vacuum, water plants, empty the rubbish bins.

I have felt pretty busy this month making sure everything is show home ready. I hope these tips are helpful if you are going to take the plunge and go to market. Selling a house is stressful but also rewarding when you see it at its optimum.

Many of us are time poor and market preparation of a house is a time consuming business. Pay for services if need be – gardeners, cleaners, handymen – it’s worth the investment.

As an interior design company, we can help you get ready. KWI offer a ‘Prepare for market’ consultation. For a minimal investment of $150.00, we will do an onsite visit of your property (Auckland-wide only) and provide you with an extensive list of room-by-room recommendations. The report will consider all of the above mentioned factors plus:

• Design style

• Colour scheme

• Accessories and presentation

• Room layout

• Furniture usage, placement and hire (if required)

We can help you to enhance your most important asset, achieving top dollar. We will work with you, your agent and to your budget to create a beautifully presented home, not a ‘Freedom’ showroom. We can then leave you to follow through on the recommendations or manage the process for you – right down to picking up the flowers from the florist.