Property Tips for Sale or Happy Living – 1

Property Maintenance

Here are some Property Tips for Everyday Living, and the Rule of Thumb for when selling a property is – if something needs repair fix it! This is even more important in today’s Minimalistic approach and decluttering approach. If you don’t love it, then remove it from your life, be that Trash, donate to charity, donate to a worthy cause, or sell it.

Repair Costs Can Cheaper than People Think

There may be several things in your house that you have simply become accustomed to over time – things that you have been promising yourself to attend to. If you are selling or planning on selling, Well NOW is the time. Buyers will mentally add up their perceived costs of repairing all those minor flaws and end up with an amount that is generally much higher than your actual costs will be. If you are staying then completed projects and finishes will make you all feel that much happier. Ask your self how good is the feeling that you have when you come home to a freshly mowed and trimed lawn and garden?

Repairs are a Big Distraction

You might be saying to yourself “These repairs aren’t any big deal”, but the buyer is thinking, “if the owner didn’t take care of these little items, then what about the roof or plumbing or air conditioner?” Necessary, non-critical minor repairs and perceived owner neglect will either lower the price or lengthen the time to sell. Check all corners for peeling paint, chipped edges and loose wallpaper and repair accordingly. Repair all major problems. In today’s climate of open disclosure and vigilant home inspections the “Golden Rule” applies. Treat the buyer as you would treat yourself.

General Cleaning

Every area of the house must sparkle and shine! Each hour spent will be worth the effort. Make it easy for the buyer to want your house.
Wash down and Clean all of the windows, including the laundry and garage. Steam Clean all carpets and rugs. Clean and polish lino, tile and wooden floors. Consider re-finishing a wood floor if necessary. Clean and polish all woodwork. Pay particular attention to kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Clean all light fixtures. The glass covers of most ceiling fixtures can be made to sparkle by running them through the dishwasher. Clean and polish ceiling fans. Take down and clean exhaust fan covers, these are dust magnets.

Present Your Home in its Best Light Allways

This part of preparing your home for sale can be the most fun and involves the use of colour, lighting and accessories to emphasise the best features of your home.
Study magazine ads and furniture showrooms to see how small details can enhance the appearance of a room. Simple additions, such as a vase of flowers, an open book on the coffee table, or a basket of logs by the fireplace can make a room more attractive and appealing.

Declutter

Be careful not to create distracting clutter, you should be decluttering as much as possible.
The use of a bright coloured pillow on a chair or a throw rug on a sofa can add dimensions to an otherwise neutral room. Use accent pieces of colour. Soften potentially offending views, but always let light into your rooms. Consider replacing heavy curtains with something lighter. Take advantage of natural light as much as possible. Clean windows, open blinds and curtains etc. If your kitchen has fluorescent lighting fixtures, use ‘warm-white’ bulbs for a bright appearance, or if possible change them to new modern LED light fittings, they will save you on power costs, look better and present your home as a modern energy efficient home