Clean
Now clean. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Clean like your fussiest relative is looking on in disapproval. Clean like the wind!
The feel of a home when people walk in is critical and a messy or dirty home is a massive turn-off for buyers. It’s like sending off a resume with spelling mistakes – it will undoubtedly end up on the “No” pile.
Is it obvious? Yes.
Does it need saying? Well, apparently.
Remember that this isn’t just a regular clean – tidy countertops will only go so far.
Make sure you scrub down to the depths of every corner cupboard, under every piece of furniture, dust around all the books and DVD cases. Clean the windows and wash the curtains; get the carpets steam cleaned, or better yet, put down new carpet! Buyers are very nosy; they will check every corner of every room, floor to ceiling, so you have to too.
It’s important to remove all evidence of your pets from inside the home. This means removing dog and cat hair from the couches and storing kennels, cages or any pet accessories out of sight on open days. You’ll want to make sure there aren’t any lingering pet smells in the house – just because you’re a dog person, it’s doesn’t mean your buyer is.
Important: When thinking about selling you home, this is the best time to speak to a mortgage broker about your home loan options. It is highly likely that you will get a better loan by using a mortgage broker to assess thousands of loan options for you, than just talking to your existing lender.