Tips For Selling Your Home

General Preparation

First impressions
From the moment the prospects arrive they should notice that the gardens and lawns are well presented. Garden rubbish should be disposed of and paths and porches kept clear and clean. Toys and garden tools should be stored away.

A tidy home says "Welcome"
Your home should be kept neat and tidy during the period of inspections. It should not necessarily be a "show place" but appear a comfortable home in which to live. Fresh flowers or indoor plants always brighten up a home.

Minor repairs can make a big difference.
Make sure that all minor repairs are completed. Sticking doors and windows, loose door knobs, faulty plumbing, peeling paint or faulty fly screen wire may affect your sale.

Make your home light and bright
Letting the sun shine in lets plenty of light into your home. Nothing improves atmosphere more than brightness. On a dull day it is advisable to switch lights on prior to arrival of prospective purchasers.

Turn on the heat or cool
A warm, comfortably heated home on cold days adds a feeling of cosiness; on a hot day don't forget to turn on the air conditioner or fan, or let the breeze flow through.

Inspections
Three's a crowd! Avoid having too many people present during inspections. Your Ward Real Estate agent knows the buyer's requirements and can better emphasise the features of your home without you tagging along.

Music in the air: pets underfoot
As a general rule it is advisable to turn off radio and television sets during inspections as they can be very distracting but some soft music can make a home feel very homey. Keep your pets out of the way (preferably out of the house). Let the agent and buyer talk, free of disturbances

Around Your Home

• Sweep driveways and paths
• Remove newspapers and magazines
• Put children's bikes and toys away
• Park extra cars away from your property
• Paint gutters and eaves if necessary
• Repair damaged fencing
• Make sure that the roof and gutters are clean and in good order
• Clean windows and repair any damaged fly screens
• Clean out and sweep the garage
• Mow the lawn and trim the edges
• Fertilize and water the lawn
• Trim shrubs and add colour to the garden (with pots if necessary)

Inside Your Home

• Have your kitchens and bathrooms shining
• Maintain all sealants - shower, bath and kitchen bench
• Consider having the carpets professionally cleaned
• Place fresh flowers in the living areas
• Open curtains and make the rooms as light and bright as possible
• Organize your linen cupboard and wardrobes so they look bigger
• Put toys away
• Play relaxing music
• Keep pets outside
• Reduce clutter to enhance the spaciousness of each room
• Change washers on dripping or tight taps

Discuss issues such as repainting or replacing soft furnishings with us before making a commitment - we may be able to make suggestions that will save time and expense while still ensuring that the best result is achieved.