A lot of people ask us if they need to fix up little things around their home before putting the property on the market. Quite commonly, these are minor cosmetic things that vendors don’t particularly care much about when it comes to purchasing the property, as many of them will repaint or renovate once they move in, so more often than not, the effort will be futile.
With many of the homes on the North Shore having been built in the 60s and 70s, buyers have come to expect that there may be some cosmetic blemishes, although this doesn’t stop them paying top dollar when it comes to buy; even “do up” properties normally sell much higher than the ratable value. In the Takapuna and Hauraki area we’ve noticed the number of sales for properties that haven’t been renovated has increased incredibly as of late.
But there are a few small tips for around the home, which can make a huge difference when it comes to selling, and these can be achieved in very little time with very little effort:
- If you have an old carpet with a few stains and marks, this is nothing to be concerned about; a lot of vendors will get the place re-carpeted anyway, so a great solution is either using a carpet cleaner, which, in my experience makes a home feel as good as new, or simply strategically placing rugs and mats, which can often also help break up a room and make it more inviting. Obviously with good agents you inform buyers of the carpet as you don’t want to hide or mislead, but it’s that initial first impression that really can make a potential buyer fall in love with a property and that is what this really helps with.
- With older homes, squeaking doors and hinges can be quite common and there is a solution that doesn’t involve replacing doors or getting a tradesperson in: simply wipe the inside of the hinge with cooking oil and then open and close the hinge a few times, dabbing away any excess oil with a kitchen towel. This is a great solution, as many buyers will close doors to see how a room feels when it is closed off from the rest of the house.
- Any loose bricks on paths and steps can be unsightly and will sometimes draw attention from the front of a house when you walk in. You can remedy this by using a small squeeze of builders’ glue at the bottom of the brick and leaving it to set. For pathways where you can’t remove the brick, a handful of sand between the cracks will do the job. This is a great option, as it takes only a few minutes to achieve a great result.
Recently, Don and I were about to list a fantastic property in Hauraki, and the couple had many family photos on a wall that they had decided to take down, and this had left a few nail holes. We had two quick solutions for this: either hang a large painting (which you can pick up at your local charity shop or the Warehouse for an affordable price – normally around $20), or rub a small amount of tooth paste into the holes, and leave it for about half an hour, then wipe any excess off with a damp towel. This works especially well when it comes to white walls, as the toothpaste blends in perfectly. As with the carpets, we do inform the buyer about any holes in the walls or marks, but having something that is visually appealing from the get go, can often engage buyers further.
The couple ended up going for the painting as they thought it added character to the wall, and the property was listed and sold in no time at all! So, if you’re thinking of selling, don’t worry about DIY, as we can help with anything minor around the home. But in our experience, doing up your home doesn’t make a huge difference in this current market when it comes to selling, and it rarely has a significant impact on the selling price.
We have a huge list of partners that we work with you can help clear any rubbish from your property, stage your home if needed and take amazing photos – and all at affordable prices. For any DIY tips, sales figures and ensuring that you get the best price for you home, make sure you get in touch with either Don or myself as we will put that extra effort in, to make sure you get the best results.
