How To Prepare a House for Sale — Property Checklist

When selling your home, knowing how to prepare a house for sale is an important element. And, while a bit of effort is required on your part, the end result is worth it. 

Presentation makes a massive difference — a potential buyer’s perception of your home is often influenced by those initial impressions. It can also ensure that you make the most from your home. 

Here are a few tips that we hope will show you how to prepare a house for sale on the Central Coast, NSW, the northern suburbs of Sydney, or anywhere for that matter.

Property Preparation Checklist

1. First Impressions Count

When selling your home, it’s very easy to focus all your efforts on the inside. However, you shouldn’t neglect the exterior — it’s an aspect that counts towards the best first impression, and attention to detail must be paid.

So, grab those gardening gloves and make sure that your lawn is beautifully trimmed, shrubs are pruned, and your garden is weed-free. Your porch will welcome potential buyers — it needs to be clutter-free, clean and inviting. For extra curb appeal, you could add some pot plants. 

2. Sparkle and Shine

Bathrooms and kitchens are key to selling your home, so let them shine. Clear dishes from the sink, wipe the benchtops and polish the taps. Make sure all surfaces are clear of grease and benches are clutter-free. 

In the bathroom, clear the vanity and shower of everyday items like shampoos and toothpaste. Clean the shower, screen and vanity so they gleam. Make sure the grout is clean, and if not up to par, consider replacing it. 

The same rules apply to the rest of the house — think deep clean, and try your hardest to keep it that way.

3. If It’s Broken, Fix It!

Minor maintenance issues like cracked tiles, jammed doors to squeaky floorboards can rapidly become a distraction to buyers. This, in turn, takes their focus away from the positives of your home. 

Make a list of all those little jobs you have been putting off, and address them before putting your house on the market. Don’t let the little things detract from what is right about your home. 

4. Declutter and Depersonalise 

The Central Coast appeals to a wide range of people, from young families through to retired people alike. So, your home needs to resonate with the same broad scope of people. 

Your potential buyers have to be able to see themselves living in your home — meaning, they want to picture their own furniture and clutter, not yours. 

Use this as an opportunity to start packing — remove family photos, treasured keepsakes, souvenirs or anything personal to you. Not only will this help to reduce distractions, but it will also make your home appear larger and less cramped.

5. Neutral Palette

The vivid and bright colours that we choose to use in our homes are very personal — what you love someone else may hate, and you don’t want your personal taste to distract from your home’s beauty.

This is also the reason that show homes are such an amazing and effective selling tool — they choose a neutral colour palette throughout. It’s as though they present buyers with a blank canvas.

So before you put your house up for sale, break out the paintbrushes. Choose a neutral colour for your walls and let your potential new homeowners picture their life in your home.

6. Set the Scene

Property styling, also known as property staging, will often help owners create a look that will appeal to potential buyers. You may want to hire additional furniture or other items to give your home that extra wow factor. 

It also offers an objective and unemotional point of view on the layout and general feel of your home. In that, stylists may be able to present solutions and improvements you may not see.

7. Storage, Storage and More Storage 

These days potential buyers are looking for more than a comfortable place to live — they’re looking for a space that works with their lifestyle. For example, the Central Coast has lots of amazing beaches and a huge range of possible outdoor activities. 

This means storage is required — lots of it. Additionally, people often need extra cupboard space within their home, so it’s best to highlight all that your home has the capacity for in the best light.

Show off your storage space, including cupboards, your garage and the garden shed — ensure these areas are clean, tidy and organised. 

8. Define the Purpose of Each Room

With the best intentions in the world, once you have lived in a home for a while the purpose of each room can quickly become a distant memory. Spare rooms turn into a dumping ground for anything that doesn’t have its place, the lounge doubles as a playroom and a home office — yet the dining room is where all that paperwork ends up. 

Defining these spaces for a specific use is all part of how to prepare your house for sale. Do your homework, visit some show homes if possible, or go online to search for new builds. These types of homes are staged to sell and will also provide you with some inspiration.

9. Let the Sunshine In

Let potential buyers see how bright and airy your home is. Ensure that windows are cleaned both inside and out — it’s surprising how much of a difference this will make to the amount of light coming in. Make sure curtains and drapes are open during the daytime.

10. Pets

While we consider our pets to be a member of the family, they also come with their own odours, shed fur and can create havoc when they’re being playful. 

Clean up after them, ensuring that any pet bedding, litter trays or toys are removed, and take them off the property during open homes. Remember, although you love your pet pooch, your potential buyer may not be of the same opinion. 

11. Make the Place Smell Good 

Open the windows and regularly air your home to get rid of any unpleasant aromas such as cigarette smoke, pet smells and musty odours. Use air fresheners, scented candles and display fresh flowers to brighten up the space. 

12. Invest in Improvements for Future Dividends

In some situations, but not all, further home improvements can make a big difference to your end result. A new kitchen or bathroom, a fresh coat of paint, adding a deck area or replacing tired and worn carpets and flooring can take your home up to the next level.

13. Let There Be Light

Buyers need to be able to see that your home offers them the space they’re looking for. You can help by using mirrors and lighting to increase the sense of space. Also, leave all the internal doors open to again create this feeling of spaciousness.

14. Create Atmosphere

Set the mood by ensuring your home maximises the potential of the temperature on the day. So if it’s cold, light those fires and crank up the heat. In contrast, if it’s hot, open doors and switch on fans and air conditioning.

Our tips on how to prepare your property for sale can go a long way in helping you achieve the best sale price for your house, unit or a townhouse on the Central Coast.

If you would like a property appraisal, please get in touch with Grace Estate Agents, your friendly and professional Central Coast real estate agent. We would be more than happy to appraise your property.

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