The Do's and Don'ts of Selling Your Home

There can be many reasons for selling your home such as needing more space, relocating towns or becoming empty nesters and wanting to downsize. No matter your reason, it can be a daunting experience. 

It doesn't matter if it’s the first time or you've been through it before, being aware of what to do or not to do can make all the difference.  To make it easier for you, we have broken down some do’s and don’ts of selling your home.

Enlist an Experienced Real Estate Agent

Selling your home is a big decision that can often be emotional and stressful, so to make the process as smooth as possible you should engage a Real Estate agent that you feel you can trust.  

The right Real Estate agent will help you with things such as 

• setting the right asking price 
• having a marketing plan that is targeted for your property 
• negotiating with prospective buyers on your behalf 

We have also compiled the Top 6 Questions you should ask Your Real Estate agent during initial meetings. These questions will help you get a feel as to whether the agent is a good fit for you and your situation and feel confident in the decisions you make. 

Consider if Major Renovations Are Necessary 

When you have decided to sell, it might be tempting to start a major renovation project in the hope of increasing your asking price. 

Undertaking huge renovations isn't necessarily a good idea. Big projects don’t always provide a big enough return on investment to justify the money and effort spent. Spending money on small changes that highlight and showcase the property’s assets in a favourable light will more often than not be a wiser investment. 

Don’t start thinking you necessarily have to undertake huge projects such as 

• completely remodelling a kitchen or bathroom (buyers will have their own tastes) 
• expensive landscape overhauls 

On that note, it is important to say that you shouldn’t let small updates or repairs be forgotten. Not taking care of these little things can make prospective buyers think that the home has been neglected and not looked after. Your goal is to make sure prospective buyers know that your home has been maintained and well taken care of. 

The focus should be on 

• necessary repairs and maintenance
• functionality 
• street appeal 
• home staging 

These things can often be done without breaking the bank and still have a significant enough impact on the property. 

Don’t Underestimate Street Appeal 

Kerb appeal is important because it’s the first impression prospective buyers will get of your property and some buyers will have made up their minds before they even walk through the front door. 

This means that you should ensure that the front garden, pathways, windows and entry are appealing. You may be tempted to go crazy with plants and flowers to bring colour and life to the garden but ideally, it should be kept simple and require low maintenance where possible. 

Work With Your Agent to Provide Access to Prospective Buyers 

Whether your agent has suggested an open home or just providing access to those who wish to see the property at different times, work with your agent to provide access.  Don’t make it too difficult otherwise, those buyers may be more inclined to view houses that are easier to access. 

Take the time to set yourself up so that you feel ready to provide access with short notice when required. We also have some top tips on how to make sure your open home is a success and how to stage your home for sale. 

Invest in Good-Quality Photos 

This is one area where it’s definitely worth spending money to ensure quality. The majority of people tend to start their house hunting online first so you need high-quality, visually appealing pictures to grab their attention. Dull, poorly lit pictures are likely to turn off prospective buyers pretty quickly. 

Enlist the services of an experienced Real Estate Photographer.  Your agent will likely be able to recommend someone for you that they have worked with previously and achieved great results. 

Keep Emotions at The Door 

Selling your home can be a very emotional process. Chances are you have lots of memories and emotions linked to the place. It can also be a tangible representation of all your hard work and sacrifices that went into making it possible. 

When you decide to list your home, it is time to start thinking of yourself as a business person instead of a homeowner so you make decisions with your head and not with your emotions. 

Selling your home will more often than not involve a lot of hard work, some stress, and patience but with the right help and advice,  the process can be made a lot smoother and less stressful. 

So If you are looking to list your property, contact our NXTGEN sales team who have over 35 years of experience and local property knowledge to help guide you through the process.