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Unclutter, do repairs, let the light in, make it smell good and have a welcoming street appeal are all good points to start off with.
Necessary Repairs
If there are any repairs and maintenance required, get it completed to a professional standard, as most buyers will insist on a property check which will expose any problems, so affecting price, or even whether you get a sale. Check that your home doesn’t have faults that can be considered a risk such as:
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Log burners – does yours have a permit and is it fastened according to earthquake standards? Potential buyers can ask for this to be done, at your cost.
- If your home has been flooded, ensure that resulting damage is repaired to required standards, as this will be noted on the LIM report.
- Dampness needs immediate attention – this can be from a variety of causes, so it pays to have a professional opinion.
- Cracked footpaths leading to the home and rusted spoutings and down pipes could create the illusion that you have a “don’t care” attitude and it could influence your price negatively.
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The roof is one area that is often neglected until something goes wrong. This is a big surface and is often perceived as costly to repair. A fresh coat of paint (if the roof is sound) can work wonders.
Keeping up standards
A second rate job will attract a second rate price. All your improvements need to be done to a professional standard - a guideline is to spend 1% of the total value of the house in upgrading and improvements.
First impressions are important - maximise street appeal; keep lawns and garden weeded and tidy, with new plantings if necessary, to freshen it up.
Garages tend to be a ‘last resting place’ for all those things that you don’t know what to with. How does it look when the door’s open? Buyers will appreciate it if it is clean, tidy and looks spacious. Paint if necessary.
Water-blast the exterior of the home, any block or brick walls/fences, paths and the driveway. Clean off any oil stains on the driveway.
Repair and replace all broken shingles/tiles.
Inspect all weatherboards and replace any that are deteriorated or rotted. These will show up in any property inspections, and if left will detract from buyer appeal.
Check all your windows and doors open and close properly, fixing any that stick and catches that are missing or not operating. Dripping taps should be fixed.
An inside job
Take an objective look at your décor, as if you are the buyer. If this is too difficult, ask an honest friend to give you some feedback. Your improvements need to both improve the saleability and quality of your home, and increase the value, at least, by the amount you spend. It is easy to overspend so do your budget carefully. Take the overall size and layout of the house into consideration. For instance, if it has small living areas spending money on a fourth bedroom is not going to help the sale of the house, it will make it more difficult as lots of kids needs lots of living space.
Paint and renovate the kitchen - the lifetime of a kitchen is 10 to 15 years. After that it’s dated although it may still be very functional.
The same is true for bathrooms. A fresh coat of paint is a good idea, getting rid of any dirty or mouldy areas that will deter buyers.
Most people want mains-pressure water so ensure that your water pressure is to standard.
Inspect the plumbing, heating and alarm systems, repair if necessary.
Remove clutter, personal belongings such as photographs etc, and items not used daily. You want to create a clean spacious look.
Repair cracks, holes and damage to wallpaper, plaster etc.
Cooking smells can costs you a sale, especially if you are fond of spiced food. There are many good odour neutralisers on the market. Houses can also smell stale if they are not vacuumed and cleaned regularly, so make sure you keep your housekeeping up to date.
An inviting front entrance makes a good impression. Keep your steps and paths swept and clean. Flank your front door with a couple of good potted plants and freshen up the paintwork.
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