How long does it take to prepare a property for sale?

With living and construction costs at all-time highs, it’s no surprise to discover move-in ready homes are the cream of the crop for today’s house hunters. 

This means your home might require a little zhuzhing before you sell. But how long will that take?

Domain asked Lucy McLennan, a project manager at Novari Collective and Hassan Najjarine, co-founder of Renosell, to throw some light on the typical timelines for pre-sale property prep.

Decluttering

For many of us, a homely home is one where a lot of our personal stuff is on display, from books and photos to trinkets and everyday items we like to have out for ease of use. But if you want buyers to feel like your home could be their home, you need to pare back your belongings and create a fairly neutral backdrop to demonstrate the full potential of each room.

“When it comes to maximising the feel of the space and the visual-spatial layout as well, decluttering is one of the most important things to do in preparing a home for sale,” says McLennan. “Then buyers can walk in and say, yes, I can see myself living in this home.”

The timeline for decluttering depends on whether you’re just storing your stuff for the duration of the sales campaign or actively looking to cull your belongings.

If you fall into the latter camp, Najjarine says there are plenty of options. If you’ve got saleable items, consider a garage sale or advertise on online marketplaces like Facebook, Gumtree and eBay to find a buyer. If you’d rather donate items to charity, some organisations will send a truck for bulky donations. And if your goods have passed their use-by date, hire a skip.

Time: Two days to pack and store; one week for skip; two weeks to sell/donate.

Repairs

Cracks in walls, water-damaged ceilings and mould in the bathroom can leave a poor impression on buyers, so it’s important to address any obvious issues before you go to market.

“If a buyer walks in and sees obvious water damage on the ceiling they’re going to question the integrity of the roof or the guttering,” says McLennan. “If there’s mould in the bathroom they’re going to question the ventilation. So, your starting point should be fixing any issue that could devalue your home.”

Time: As little as two days if the problem is superficial; a week if more serious.

Fresh paint

Both McLennan and Najjarine agree that fresh paint – inside and out – is one of the best “bang for your buck” updates you can do before listing your property.

“People underestimate what a difference painting makes,” says Najjarine, who believes a fresh coat of exterior paint can really ramp up kerb appeal.

Inside, paint can lighten and brighten a property.

“A lot of people’s homes, even if they’ve got white walls, begin to feel quite lived in,” says McLennan. “They look scuffed or slightly marked, there’s chips on door frames and discolouration where the couch has been up against the wall. Painting throughout creates that blank canvas and people can then just move straight in and it instantly feels fresh.”

Time: One to four weeks, depending on the size of the property.

New fixtures

The downside of a fresh paint job is it can make your dated fixtures stand out, so Najjarine recommends replacing light switch and powerpoint plates, light fittings and door handles.

“This is one of the main things we focus on for clients,” he says. “These are cost-effective improvements that modernise the property.”

Time: Three days.

Kitchens and bathrooms

While it’s true that a brand new kitchen or bathroom can help to sell a home, it’s also true that these spaces are subject to individual tastes. 

“Kitchens and bathrooms are very personal, and they’re high-value tasks,” says McLennan. “There’s no point spending $5000 on a red kitchen backsplash because the next person might hate it.”

So, unless you’re planning to spend the big bucks on a designer fit-out that no one can argue with, our experts advise a facelift rather than a rip-out and replace.

This might involve repainting tiles, resurfacing baths and replacing toilets, shower screens, appliances, tapware and benchtops.

“That generally comes in at half the price of a full renovation but it looks really, really good when you’re taking it to market,” says Najjarine.

Time: Allow two to four weeks for a facelift; allow two to three months for a brand-new kitchen or bathroom.

Garden

The key to a well-presented garden is an outdoor space that looks well-maintained. This means no weeds, fresh mulch, manicured hedges, lawns mowed and trimmed trees and bushes.

“You want it to look like someone actually cares about the property,” says Najjarine. “So, when people drive up to an open house they look at it and say, well, that’s well kept, let’s go in.”

McLennan says pressure cleaning to freshen up a home’s hard surfaces is an excellent investment. 

She notes that some vendors complete an interior renovation but ignore the garden. So owners, engage someone to tidy up outside in a bid to get buyers through the front door.

Time: From two to four days depending on the size of the garden.

McLennan and Najjarine understand that many clients have already signed up with an agent and are working with the agent’s tight timeline to get the property listed. But if you’ve got reliable trades, most homes can be ready for sale in two to six weeks.

And if you don’t have spare cash to prep your house for sale, businesses like Novari Collective and Renosell offer a payment plan.

“The best part of our business is that the client doesn’t pay us anything upfront,” says Najjarine. “We quote the scope of works, it’s a fixed price contract, and we defer payment to settlement.”

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