It’s scary to think that in a month or two, we’ll see Christmas decorations in stores. When this occurs, it signals the beginning of the year’s final phase. You may be starting to think of the new year to come. Maybe your child starts a new school, or perhaps you start a new job. Maybe you need a change of scenery and are thinking of moving provinces, or a fantastic opportunity has presented itself overseas. Regardless of your reasons, if you’re thinking of selling your house soon, we’re here to help you get your house ready to sell.
While searching for a new home or rental can be exciting, selling property can be daunting, especially as being a ‘seller’ in the property market is very difficult at present. How do you make your property stand out among the many others on the market?
What are homebuyers looking for?
The secret to getting your house ready to sell is knowing what potential buyers find attractive when looking at prospective houses. These seven things are what top real estate agents say home buyers find appealing in a house:
- Modern kitchen and bathroom.
- Built-in storage.
- Energy efficiency.
- Outdoor area/patio.
- Exterior lights.
- Security features.
- Well-maintained garden.
We get it. You would rather not spend a fortune on a house you don’t intend to live in for much longer. However, with a little money spent, it can save you from having your property on the market for months. It may also result in you getting the figure you were hoping for.
Today, we give you some cost-effective ideas on how to make your home more appealing and ready to sell. We will also give you some top tips on what to do when your house is on show.
Cost-effective house upgrades.
1. Freshen up your kitchen cabinets.
The kitchen is the most important room in your home when you want to sell. Buyers tend to focus on the kitchen more than any other room when viewing a home. So if you are going to spend money upgrading anything, make it the kitchen. Newer appliances, granite countertops, freshly painted cabinets and attractive splashbacks can completely transform your kitchen and upgrade the look of your home.
However, if your budget is tight, just consider painting your kitchen cabinets. Although accent colours on cabinets are very trendy, if you’re trying to sell your house, it’s advised that you stick with classic neutrals, which appeal to most buyers. We highly recommend painting the cabinets white, which will make the space feel more open and airy.
While you are at it, consider updating the cabinet handles. These don’t cost a fortune and make a big difference to a more modern-looking kitchen.
2. Simple bathroom upgrade.
When it comes to updating your bathrooms, ripping out old, dated tiles is a very costly and messy exercise. Luckily this is not necessary! Did you know it’s possible to paint over your tiles and grout to make your bathroom look fresh, clean and modern?
Here’s a pro tutorial on what you need and how to paint your tiles.
The same goes for bathroom cabinets. Freshen them up with a coat of paint. Swapping out bathroom faucets is also a relatively simple upgrade that will completely modernise your bathroom and get your house ready to sell.
3. Built-in storage is a must.
The key to selling your home quickly is to help potential buyers envision themselves and their belongings in the space. You need to eliminate the uncertainty surrounding the question, “Where am I going to store all my things?” This doesn’t just go for bedroom wardrobe storage but extra storage as well, such as linen cupboards.
Fineline Wardrobe Solutions are the experts at designing custom built-in storage to fit any space and dimensions. Our quality and craftsmanship ensure a sturdy, well-designed layout that will be an evident asset to any home.
Fineline Solutions also only use sliding wardrobe doors on their cupboards. Sliding wardrobe doors are the best solution for tight spaces such as in passageways and smaller bedrooms, as they take up no floor space when opened and closed.
Our sliding wardrobe doors can be finished in a range of different materials, such as mirror, glass, solid-coloured melamine, wood-grain melamine or even a combination of materials. Fineline sliding doors make a room look more elegant and modern.
The single biggest item in your bedroom that can make it look dated is old, hinged wardrobe doors. If you already have built-in storage but want to upgrade the look of your bedroom, we at Fineline can do a simple wardrobe door conversion. This is when we remove the old hinged wardrobe doors, lay down a track, and install new, modern sliding wardrobe doors instead.
If you are getting your house ready to sell, we suggest either our plain white melamine sliding wardrobe doors or mirror sliding doors, or even a combination of the two. These two sliding doors are our most popular, as they are sleek, clean and transcend any style. They also make a room look lighter and brighter. If you have a dark or small bedroom, mirror sliding doors will make the room look brighter and larger by reflecting light and space.
4. Spruce up your outdoor areas.
Undeniably South Africans are outdoor people, and having friends and family over for a braai is an integral part of our culture. For this reason, outdoor seating areas are crucial for potential buyers.
Sprucing up your outdoor area will show potential buyers that they can easily entertain outside. You can do this by simply adding in a bistro table and some chairs. Or make your outdoor area look more appealing and cosy by updating it with scatter cushions, throws, or a rug.
5. Update your lighting.
It is amazing how a new light fixture can completely transform a space, and it is relatively simple to do. Consider upgrading a few around your home and cleaning up others. With so many lighting shops, you can find lots of modern options no matter what your budget.
If upgrading light fixtures is not within your budget, at least check that all your lights are working and that the bulbs are consistent in colour, preferably with warm undertones.
Don’t underestimate the power of light in your home. One of the main turn-offs to a potential buyer is if rooms look dark. Let as much natural light in as possible. Keep window treatments, such as blinds and curtains, light and airy.
6. Invest in a repaint.
If you are getting your house ready to sell, investing in an entire repaint is a good idea. You will be amazed at how your home will look brand new. If the budget doesn’t allow for an entire repaint, focus on key areas, such as doors, window frames, and the house exterior. Kerb appeal is crucial, as it is the first impression your house will make on a potential buyer. Remember to opt for neutral colours. For the interior, go with white, off-white, or cream to make the space look bigger and brighter.
Tips for showcasing your home to potential buyers.
Now that you have spruced up your home and are ready to show it to potential buyers, here are a few tips for show day.
1. Declutter your home.
Wherever possible, try to put excess stuff out of sight and mind. You need to create a space that potential buyers can envision themselves living in. Clutter prevents this from happening. You don’t want potential buyers being more intrigued by all your stuff rather than the rooms themselves. Clutter also makes a room look smaller.
2. Stow personal decor items.
We keep on reiterating that buyers want to imagine themselves and their belongings in your home, and this can be extremely difficult to do when your home is covered in personal items like family photos, room nameplates and travel souvenirs. Removing personal decor is probably the hardest part of getting your house ready to sell. However, the less personal a home looks, the better.
3. Use rooms for their intended purpose.
We all sometimes use spaces for how we need them rather than how they are intended. Often a formal dining room or spare room is used as a playroom or an office, which is completely understandable. However, when you want to sell, revert rooms back to their intended use. Many potential buyers don’t have the imagination to envision their dining room table in a room cluttered with kids’ toys. Repurposed rooms can disrupt the flow of a home, so it’s especially important that each room maintains its original appearance.
4. A sparkling clean house.
Not only must potential buyers envision themselves in your home, but they must also want to be there, and no one wants to be in a dirty house. Before show days, do a thorough house clean. Consider professional carpet cleaning to get rid of odours.
5. Tend to the garden.
A well-maintained garden adds loads of appeal to a home. Make sure flowerbed edges are trimmed and neat, pull out weeds and replace dead plants. Depending on the season, adding a pop of colour with some seasonal flowers will make a big difference.
6. Turn on all the lights.
When potential buyers come to view your home, turn on all the lights, including ceiling and ambient lights, even during the day. This will ensure no room looks dark and dreary.
7. Details make the difference.
Although it is advised to depersonalise your home, it’s still important to make it feel inviting and cosy. A few soft trimmings can help, such as scattered pillows, throws, rugs, flowers, and plants.
In conclusion.
Understandably, you don’t want to invest any more money in a house you want to sell, but the reality is that you also don’t want it to sit on the market for months and months, forcing you to lower your asking price. Homes that are prepped to sell sell 50% faster than the ones that aren’t.
If you feel your home needs extra storage to make it desirable to potential buyers. Or if you want to modernise the look of your already built-in storage with elegant sliding doors, give us at Fineline Solutions a call today.
For more creative ideas visit our trendy blog.
