De-cluttering to prepare the house for open for inspections is the most important step along the way to a successful sales campaign, says Burnham Real Estate’s Allan Barry.
“Vendors who successfully de-clutter give potential buyers the chance to better imagine themselves living in the house. But many get it wrong and it often reflects negatively in the sale price,” says the Deer Park agent.
Vendors selling their tenanted properties need to be careful, too. He explains: “Vendors can’t tell tenants how to live per se, but they are able to have the final say in terms of how it’ll be presented.”
Experts suggest effective de-cluttering involves stripping away items such as family photographs, books, toys and merchandise and also focuses on cleaning drawers, floors and benches.
“The kitchen is the number-one priority,” says Barry. “It helps to have homely cooking aromas and appliances as upgraded as possible. The wet areas need to be sparkly clean and a fresh paint job can get $3 back for each $1 spent, as the saying goes.”
While overcapitalising can be a big mistake, Barry says that’s not a big factor in the Brimbank area. However, vendors with big blocks should keep lawns neat which can go a long way to injecting interest. And, while some swear by a ‘right’ time in the calendar to sell, Barry says vendors need pay less attention to theories and more on preparation relative to the time of year they choose to sell. Specifically, he suggests winter is a prime time to inspect the condition of heating systems, spouting and downpipes.
When it comes to pricing, Barry says vendors need to be realistic and wary of the fact buyers sometimes know the market just as well as the agents. Setting the price too high can backfire – the vendor may lose credibility if the property languishes and the asking price is reduced.
Mark Bunker
