“It’s a very competitive market out there”
says Grant Rea of Dogon Group Properties . If you are considering
selling your home you need to make sure that it competes favourably
with other homes on the market; one way to do this is to “stage” your
home. There are many ways to improve the first impression created by
your home.
Remember buyers are becoming more discerning and make a
thorough inspection of your home, especially since the “voetstoots”
clause protects the seller from any “comebacks” from the purchaser
regarding defects that are apparent. In the event of a dispute
regarding defects, the seller will be held responsible if it can be
proven that a defect was fraudulently hidden and undisclosed to the
purchaser.
You will not be sorry if you spruce up your home before selling,
because you will have an advantage over sellers who have not taken time
to do this. The trick is to think what the majority of buyers are
hunting for and to give them exactly that. Of course you may want to go
the route of appointing a decorator, but few of us will want to go to
this expense. So here are some easy ways to add value:
1. Old kitchen cupboard doors can be replaced with new ones and at a
fraction of the cost your kitchen could look brand new. Ensure grout in
tiles is clean and presentable; this can be easily cleaned with
detergents. Brightly coloured and unsightly sanitary ware and tiles are
easily improved by re-enameling in more neutral colours. Do it yourself
or call one of numerous companies who do this for you. It’s
surprisingly inexpensive but make sure you shop around. These companies
will often offer a guarantee as well. Spruce up your bathroom with a
couple of cleverly placed accessories.
2. Dark rooms are extremely “off putting” to buyers; create a light, natural and airy impression.
3. A leading TV garden personality claims that a garden can add
about 17% to the value of your home. Grass needs to be trimmed and
neat. Cut down vegetation that blocks out light from your home. Pebbled
areas can be very effective in creating a modern and low maintenance
garden.
4. CLUTTER IS THE ENEMY, when it comes to selling, pack away as much
family clutter as possible. Use stylish storage baskets etc. for items
lying around.
5. Remember the first impression is vital. Act like a buyer and get
close friends to give you a brutally honest opinion from your front
gate to the back garden. You only have a few critical seconds to make
that WOW impression on a buyer.
Finally, you might love your dog but if the buyer gets a whiff of
his presence it may cost you the sale. Also ensure unruly animals are
put away before potential buyers view the home.
BUYERS DON’T LIKE:
1. Poorly done DIY jobs.
2. Foul smells in your house.
3. General untidiness and CLUTTER.
4. Unruly dogs and kids.
5. Too much furniture.
6. Very bright and loud colours.
7. Dark, boxed-in spaces.
BUYERS LIKE:
1. Bright open spaces.
2. White, neutral bathrooms.
3. Off-street parking.
4. Neat tidy gardens.
5. Wooden floors, natural and plain carpeting.
6. Neat and clean kitchens.
7. Plain tiling.
Written by: Grant Rea
Tel: 074 401 8840
Email me on
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
