Planning to put your home on the market this year? Then you’ll want to know how to get the best price you possibly can. 

Many people stumble at this point and make a whole lot of bad financial decisions, putting money into areas that will do little, if anything, to boost their property’s value. Keep in mind that there are countless upgrades that can be made to an old home, so it can often be difficult to know exactly what to focus on. Should I knock out that mint green bath and install a jacuzzi? Will potential buyers be put off by my psychedelic decor? Do I need to build another 4 bathrooms? What do people even look for these days? 

So many questions for the poor vendor to consider. Yes, there are a lot of options to mull over, however, the key to prepping your home for the market is actually quite simple. All you need to do is to concentrate on the areas that are going to generate the highest value, whilst spending as little money as humanly possible.   

So, that are these magical areas? When you get down to it, it’s all fairly straightforward. There’s no need to spend months putting in a marble staircase or refurbishing your home with 18th-century wooden interiors hand carved by monks. I mean, you could if you wanted to, but the main focus here is going to be on the essentials. So let’s get down to it!     

1. Basic restoration

Interest in your property is largely going to depend on the overall state and functionality that it is currently in. It won’t matter if it’s 200 years old, so long as it’s stood the test of time and the buyers can be assured that they’re not going to have to spend thousands on top of the asking price to keep it standing or in working order. So with that said, identify the key features of your home that are in dire need of repair and invest what you can into revitalising and modernising those shortcomings. Patch up those giant cracks in the wall, get that leak fixed, and by golly, unclog that kitchen sink if it’s the last thing you do.

2. Spruce up!

First impressions are critical to keeping prospective buyers interested, and the easiest way to do this is to roll up those sleeves and clean your little heart out! And when I say clean, I don’t mean a good 10 minute feather dusting session. I mean on your hands and knees cleaning out that grout in the shower tiles, steam cleaning your carpets, scrubbing the walls, mopping the floors, and that’s just the inside! Head on outside and do basic tidying. Sweep the paths, mow the lawn, weed the garden and make sure that everything looks spick and span for your first open inspection. You want people to show up and immediately feel like they’ve made the right choice in coming to see your home. 

3. Enhance the atmosphere

This might sound rather abstract but hear me out. Have you ever walked into someone’s house and just felt ‘off’? This is exactly what we want to avoid. When we talk about the ambiance found within a home, we’re not referring to some crazy pseudo-scientific nonsense, this can be as practical as ensuring the curtains are open to increase natural lighting. It could also include airing out your home several hours before the inspection by opening all the windows and doors to allow sufficient airflow to get rid of any dank lingering odours. Another thing to consider is the interior and exterior set up of your home. Does the furniture placement allow for a smooth flow throughout the property, or are there pathways being blocked that should otherwise remain open? You might be surprised at how much of an impact something as simple as the position of a couch can make to the overall atmosphere of a room. 

4. Bust out the paint brush

The most tried and tested of all the property boosting tricks! Adding a new lick of paint to your home’s interior can make a monumental difference to the look and feel of an old or outdated property. This is a project that can easily be done over a weekend and won’t break the bank. It’s always going to be a good idea to opt for neutral colours so that you can allow your buyers a chance to visualise their own ideas, which can sometimes be hard in a fluro green bathroom or a bright red living room. 

5. Let there be light!

Never underestimate the power of natural lighting. Ensuring that your home receives enough light during an inspection is absolutely crucial to high-lighting (pun intended) its positive features. Natural lighting has this magical ability to make everything look and feel… well, illuminated! With enough natural light, you can turn a dark and musty old shack into a warm, cozy, and inviting home. A great way to introduce more light into your house can be as easy as washing your windows, pruning any outside overhanging trees, and even bringing in some mirrors or reflective surfaces to double the amount of sunlight coming in.  

There’s really no need to get overwhelmed by the prospect of selling your home. It doesn’t have to be a process full of stress and anxiety, all you need to do is think ahead, invest wisely, and make your home look as inviting as you can. At the end of the day, people will always be looking to buy, you just want to ensure they stop at your front door, and not the next.