When a house has been on the market for longer than three months, Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, suggests that a seller might want to consider what else needs to be done to make the home more appealing to potential buyers.
“There could be a host of reasons why a property is taking longer to sell, be it market conditions, poor quality listing photos, an underperforming real estate agent, or an over inflated asking price, to name but a few. Sometimes, however, it could be none of those things, and all it takes to sell the home is a few simple updates to win over the hearts of potential buyers,” says Goslett.
To help those who are struggling to sell, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares their top 5 budget-friendly ways to make a home more sellable.
Declutter
Clear out excess belongings to make rooms feel more spacious. Not only is this entirely free, but you might even make some cash by selling some of the belongings that are no longer in use.
Neutralise
To help enable potential buyers to picture themselves living in the space, it can help greatly to depersonalise the home’s décor. Remove personal knick-knacks and photographs. Replace bold paint colours and décor choices with a fresh coat of paint or décor in more neutral tones.
Deep Clean
A clean home instantly feels more inviting and well-maintained. Having carpets professionally cleaned can make them look brand new. Scrubbing grout lines in the bathroom can take years off its appearance. You could also hire a high-pressure hose to clean off outdoor paving or brickwork.
Repair
Attend to any minor repairs such as fixing leaky faucets, repairing chipped paint, or replacing broken tiles. Make sure all doors and drawers open and close smoothly. Fix any squeaky hinges or handles. These small fixes can make a big difference in how well-maintained the home appears.
Staging
This does not mean that you need to go out and buy new furniture. Use what you have to stage your home effectively. Get creative to showcase the functionality of each room. For example, if you have an empty bedroom, cover some cardboard boxes with bedding to create a fake bed. In the living areas, rearrange your existing furniture to create an open, flowing layouts.
By focusing on these budget-friendly strategies, you can make your home more appealing to potential buyers without spending a lot of money.
READ: Why you really need to stage your home before selling
Consider these tips ( read full article here) previously shared by Silvana dos reis Marques, Franchisee at Leapfrog Pretoria East and Irene.
Sweet scents
Looking good is one thing, smelling great is another! Scent has a surprisingly strong effect on our emotions and as such goes a long way in making a space more appealing. “It’s a good idea to have a pot of coffee brewing or something tasty baking in the oven. Similarly a scented candle or a mild, but refreshing, room spray can make a subtle difference.” Also don’t forget to take the rubbish out, wipe surfaces and clear the kitchen sink,” Dos reis Marques recommends.
Don’t forget the outside
While buyers are mostly concerned with the inside of the property, it doesn’t hurt to pay attention to the outside. “The outside is what is seen first, so ensure the exterior is also neat and tidy and that, at the very least, the walkway to the entrance is unobstructed,”
Since emotion has such an important role when choosing a property to buy, and home staging is all about ensuring that a property appeals to the emotions of prospective buyers, it is important not to underestimate the potential of things like order, natural light and pleasing scents as these can go a long way towards selling your property fast and at the right price.
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