Zhushing your house for sale

Look at your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer, and take note of imperfections you’ve been overlooking. Buyers usually want to be able to move in straight away, so they’re looking for a home that won’t need immediate repairs.

1. Remove clutter

The first step to a good-looking home is to remove excess. Work on the theory that the less clutter, the more spacious your home will appear.

• Hire a skip and clear out cupboards, garage, garden shed and laundry.
• Donate spare clothes, toys, appliances and kitchenware to charity.
• Sell or give away furniture you’re not taking with you.
• In the kitchen, remove fridge magnets, the kids’ artwork, appliances and utensils, leaving benches clear and spotless.

2. Appeal from the street

First impressions are important, so go and stand outside and note everything that needs work.

• Do you see spider webs, wasp nests or tired pot plants? Get rid of them.
• Clear out gutters, and remove branches and leaves from the roof.
• How’s the mailbox?
• Clean the windows; sand back and paint worn windowsills or frames.

3. Make an entrance

Welcome buyers to their new home by making the entrance inviting.

• Clear the pathway to the door.
• Scrub the porch and add a chair or pot plant.
• If the front door’s looking worn, give it a coat of paint and a new doorknob.

3. Green up the garden

A well-kept garden gives the impression that the property has been loved and looked after. You don’t need a green thumb – many buyers are happy with a low-maintenance garden.

• Mow lawns, and trim edges, hedges and trees.
• Remove weeds.
• Fill garden beds with flowering annuals.
• Spread mulch under trees and on gardens.
• Make sure the pool is sparkling clean and the pump-room spotless.

4. Sparkle on the inside

Buyers want to ‘try out’ your home, so expect them to open cupboards, turn on taps and lights, and size up the rooms.

• Have the carpets and furnishings professionally cleaned.
• Repair chips and holes, doorknobs, handles, dripping taps and faulty hinges.
• Arrange furniture to show each room at its best. Place comfy chairs facing a window to highlight a view and make sure there are pathways through your home to make it appear more spacious.
• Invest in some new cushions and throws. You can take these to your new home, so it’s worth the investment.
• Scrub the bathroom and add fluffy towels, mats and a flowering pot plant.
• Open windows and curtains, and turn on lamps during inspections.

5. Hire a stylist

A home stylist will assess your home and decorate it in a consistent style to appeal to the buyers looking in your area. This could be very different from your idea of the perfect decor for your home, but a stylist will be considering other things, such as the type of house, the neighbourhood and what buyers want to see.

You have one chance to create a positive impression for buyers. Any cosmetic enhancements that you make could affect the price of your home, so it’s worth taking time to notice and start working on them now.