There goes a lot behind the scenes before you see that board that says, property for sale. This is something I realised from our own experience. And the more you are prepared the better. Also, it takes a lot of commitment to get to a point where you feel like you’re ready for the sale of your property. But once you are done, voilà, the universe will be ready for you. The following is a checklist of things for you to do before listing and putting it out there, that your property is for sale:
Table of Contents
✦ 1. Compound
As you can imagine, this is the first area of your property that should impress the clients when they arrive. Thus, it should be great to make them be interested to see more of the property. And the following should be on point on your compound before listing your property for sale:
✦ 1. The Garden
There is no secret that a tidy and well-kept garden adds beauty to the property. That is why before adding your house to the list of properties for sale, you should ensure that the front and the back garden are in order. For instance, the grass should be short, and flowers and other plants should not be overgrown. And remember also to remove the weeds because they can be a turn-off to some interested customers.
✦ 2. The Fence Before Listing a Property for Sale
In case, your fence is a living one, then the plants and trees that have outgrown whether they are from the neighbours or from you as the owner should be trimmed. This is because people are so different and to some, it really matters that the whole compound is proper. Other people see an opportunity where they can fix it to their own taste, while others do not really care about it. You never know, but I don’t think you want to take that risk. So to avoid the property being for sale for a long period of time, just fix anything that you think that it needs to be fixed. Even if they are small details, they could be important.
✦ 2. No Major Renovations
The first thing that comes to your mind when you want to sell a property is renovations. And this comes with the hope that you may get more money from the sale. But this is far from the truth, the bitter truth is that you will not get your money back. Therefore, do not invest in the major renovations of that property. The following are some of the things that you may consider doing:
✦ 1. Paint the Property Before Listing it for Sale
Having the walls of your property painted in neutral colours will be a great idea. And if the walls are already in those colours, you don’t have to, especially, if they are clean. But if they are dirty, they will need some cleaning or paint. Choose whatever you think will work better for you.
✦ 2. Fix the Handles Before Listing Your Property for Sale
These are minor issues but relevant. I don’t know why or how but in a home that is fully functional on a daily basis, you can’t go for a year without a loose handle. May it be in the kitchen drawers, house doors, windows or even the garage. You’ll have to go through them to see if they are correct. And to be real, you can fix them yourself because it is never that complicated to fix them. You will just need a screwdriver and you are good to go.
And I don’t think that the real estate agent will be impressed with a handle falling apart or not opening when he is giving the tour of your home. It can still happen though, but let existing loose handles be fixed.
✦ 3. Fix the Water Leakage
From our own experience when we were looking for a house, this was just a turn-off. And to be honest, I think that, this is the case for a lot of people. It doesn’t matter if it is just some drops or if it is in the garage. This may turn off a lot of interested customers even if the location, compound, walls and preferred house design is working for them. Please take your time and check the roof, the sink, and the pipes. This could be a game-changer.
✦ 4. General Cleaning Before Listing the Property for Sale
Before listing your property for sale, head to your favourite supermarket and get the cleaning products. These are for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, floor, windows and doors. And after buying, you take your time or even get some help to have everything cleaned. It may take a couple of days but in the end, it will be worth it. Also, remember to clean up the compound and sweep all the leaves from the fall season. Last but not least, get rid of all those old electronics, bicycles, and furniture that are lying in your garage.
✦ 5. Remove Any Cultural and Religious Artefacts
I know that you really love those artefacts and they mean the world to you. But I am sorry to let you know that in the sale of your property, they will not be welcomed. This is because they can be a turn-off to some people. I would recommend that you remove them from your compound, walls, shelves and even on your table. If possible add some more plants to decorate your home.
✦ 6. Remove all Your Family Pictures
Your property has been a private space but once it is on sale, it will not be the case. Remove all family photos and your favourite paintings from the walls and even on top of your chimney. With this, it will ensure that the focus is the sale of the house and not the owners.
✦ 7. Use a Professional Photographer
Booking a photographer should be included in your agenda before listing your property for sale. This should be a person who is specialised in taking photos in this field. This is because research has shown that people will click easily nice and good-quality photos when they are used in marketing.
After ticking all these points from your checklist, I believe that you’ll be ready to sell your property. Best wishes, enjoy the process and stay positive!
