Christmas and Australia Day have come and gone, so what’s next? The shops are now filled with chocolate hearts, red roses and fluffy teddy bears to remind us Valentine’s Day is on the horizon!

We all like a bit of love and attention from time to time and if you’re thinking of selling your home, a bit of TLC can go a long way; in our experience, minor, low-cost improvements can add another $10,000 – $20,000 to the value in some cases.

Furthermore, as well as adding value, a well-presented property may also help your house sell faster.

So what needs to be done? Here are a few pointers:

First Impressions

First impressions count and even if the inside looks immaculate, buyers can be put off by a ramshackle exterior. Replace old weatherboard panels and fill in cracks in brickwork. It may be worth looking at giving the house a new coat of paint too.

A fresh coat of paint works wonders on the inside as well. While you like the deep red feature wall and your teenager thought black was a great look, prospective buyers may think otherwise. Use neutral colours such as white or cream to cover up the scuffmarks, stains and dirt from your family living, and transform your property into a fresh, bright and spacious place to live.

Tidy Up the Garden

You don’t have to go overboard with the garden or yard, you just need to tidy it up. Clear dead plants, trim the hedges and mow the lawn. It may be worth investing in some top soil or bark chips to neaten up flowerbeds too.

Change the Floor

While you have lived with a fraying, swirly pink carpet for years, many can’t live with it for one day. Investing in a new neutral coloured carpet will not only improve the look, it will add value. Floorboards are becoming increasingly popular so it may be worth sanding and polishing existing boards. Alternatively, consider floating timber or laminated timber floors.

Clean Up the Kitchen

The kitchen is one area that comes under a lot of scrutiny from buyers. A full-blown kitchen makeover is very costly, and it may not be to everyone’s taste anyway, so make just a few changes to help it pass the potential buyer’s muster. Change the doorknobs, tap fittings or bench tops and cupboard doors can be painted or changed.

Brighten up the Bathroom

A complete bathroom makeover may not necessarily be recouped particularly if the toilet and bathroom is still in good working order. However, small additions and repairs will make it more appealing. A new towel rail, toilet seat, taps, shower curtain or screen can work wonders while filling in grout and repairing chipped baths and sinks will definitely improve the appearance.

Fixing the Fixtures

Now’s the time to ditch the 1980s lampshade and the wobbling ceiling fan! A lighter room always looks more attractive so change the globes for a higher wattage. Consider putting in some downlights too; they not only help with making a room look lighter, they are also more energy efficient – another attraction for prospective buyers.

Clean, Clean, Clean

No-one likes to walk into a dirty property. You want your property to be fresh and appealing. Clean dirty air vents, dust off shelving, de-cobweb the corners and get cleaning behind the stove, fridge and other furniture.

Get Rid of the Clutter

A larger room is more appealing to buyers, and a room appears larger when there’s less in it. Remove personal photographs, ornaments and even smaller items of furniture. Consider storing these belongings elsewhere when you’re holding open inspections – remember people look into absolutely everything so you don’t want your worldly goods falling out of over packed cupboards.

If you’re wondering what else to do, why not give us a call and we’ll gladly pop around and give you some more tips.