Simple rules whilst selling at Christmas time!

You can still celebrate Xmas whilst selling your home

Follow these simple rules

• The old paper decorations that the kids made in kindy have got to go. Pack them up just for this year!
• The tinsel strewn across the room... That's a definite NO.
• Replace the half burned out candles with fresh new ones.
• Look at your Christmas tree does it need replacing? What about the decorations?
• Create a unique tree and treat yourself to some new decorations.
• No stencil frosting on the windows.
• Resist the temptation to adorn the whole home with decorations, I suggest that
• you just stick to a beautiful tree, a wreath on the front door and minimal table top decorations.

Improving the outdoor area is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to add value to your property.

 Improving the outdoor area is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to add value to your property.
You'll be amazed at how little time it can take to transform your outdoor areas into a space that buyers can imagine entertaining in or watching the kids play outdoors.
 Create a look that is enticing and peaceful.
Potted plants are inexpensive and give you that instant WOW

             

Bathroom tubs have really come along way

Bathroom tubs have really come along way. It never ceases to amaze me just how much impact a free standing bath tub makes to a bathroom.I'ts a real "WOW". Be inspired to sink into a tub and soak your cares away!

Winter outdoor areas

If you're anything like me the backyard pergola gets neglected in the winter time. Buyers love the outdoor entertaining areas, so its important that they can imagine themselves entertaining under that pergola, cooking the BBQ and having fun with family and friends.

• Generally the pavers get a build up of moss and dirt. Get the hose and scrubbing brush out and give them a good clean with a cleaning solution
• Do the same with the outdoor furniture and the BBQ
• Discard the dead hanging plants and dreary potted ones and replace with some vibrant new colourful plants or flowers.
• For some 'WOW' pot some colourful flowers and put them on the table
•  Add some colourful cushions to the existing seating
• Now you're ready to bring your buyers through  

                                                 Click here for some great ideas

When styling your home for sale you must learn how to get the best out of the space that you already have!

When styling your home for sale you must learn how to get the best out of the space that you already have!

 For some inspiration buy some magazines and check out some of the interior design and styling shows on television such as "The Block". Personally,  I love pinterest check it out for some great home decor ideas and trendy and cool items for your home.

Remember when selling your home " Presentation" is a must!

Mould and mildew tend to creep into almost every home by the end of a long cold winter

Mould and mildew tend to creep into almost every home by the end of a long cold winter. The kitchen is no exception and generally it's the heart of the family. See below some spring cleaning suggestions

• Wash all the walls over with some soapy scented water
• Scrub all the kitchen cupboards with a no abrasive product
• Give the floors and any rugs a good vacuum and wash
• Time to clean out the dreaded pantry, discard all of the out dated food
• Re organise the pantry, I love organised cupboards
• Give the dishwasher a clean out
• Wipe out the interiors of the kitchen cupboards
• Clean the windows and window coverings
• Now for the most hated task of all YES the oven. You don't want your buyers seeing the last 3 months worth of baked dinners now do you
• De clutter the benches and give them a good scrub
• If you are feeling really energetic scrub all of your appliances and most used items
• Once you have achieved all of the above, treat yourself  to a bottle of champagne and a bunch of flowers to brighten up the kitchen
• Owh and don't forget to wash the light fittings

When selling your property, one of trickiest things to ask a client is to remove their "treasures"

When selling your property, one of trickiest things to ask a  client is to remove their "treasures" or shall i say in some cases clutter and junk.

When one of my clients is preparing their home for the the professional photographer, i always urge them to remove the clutter. Even if it is only for the photography.

I  like to have a walk through the property with the client prior to the photography and talk with my clients about what needs to be done to prepare the home for the photographs. I like to leave them with a check list.

There is nothing worse than arriving with the photographer to find dirty tea towels hanging on the stove and the kitchen table covered in junk!

You would be surprised at how many times that has happened!

 We have to de clutter and present the property to it's best ability.

                                 

Lets inject some real value into your property this month

It's tough out there that's for sure. Buyers are spoilt for choices so sellers have to present a house which will stand out from the rest.

Now that you are selling, its the perfect time to look at how you can add some real value to your house or unit through improvements.

During this month you will be inspired with the 8 easy ways that the experts reckon will inject real value into your property.

Check out David Koch blog http://kochie.com.au/20120506558/inject-real-value-into-your-property

Let's get all the boxes ticked and lets go and get you a sale.

                                     

Divine Bedrooms

How Divine are these beds.. Check out my Pinterest board labeled Bedrooms for some more gorgeous ideas!

Swap old lamps for some new trendy new ones

Swap old lamps for some new trendy new ones. Or why not treat yourself to some new shades. They are inexpensive and can bring a whole new look to your room.

                                                         

Big, colourful and comfy

Big, colourful and comfy is the choice when selecting cushions to brighten up a home. You will be amazed at what a difference a cushion can make.

                                         

See below some quick tips for the exterior of your property:

See below some quick tips for the exterior of your property:

• Mow the front & rear lawns
• Weed the gardens
• Trim the edges
• Chop and trim any over grown trees and shrubs
• Remove any rubbish that's lying around. Old pot plants, unused toys etc.
• If you have a pool, please make sure it is clean.
•  Remove pool cleaning apparatus out of sight
• Get rid of the cobwebs
• Clean your windows
• Make sure your blinds and curtains are clean and present well from the exterior of the property.
• Do any necessary paint touch ups. How about a bright red front door?
• Clean and freshen up the veranda.
• Make sure all door hardware is in good working order. You don't want your knob to fall off do you!
• If time permits add some colourful flowers, they will instantly brighten up your garden.
• Why not put 2 pots either side of your front door - Instant wow!

                                     

A couple of quick tips to make your kitchen stand out for the photographer :

A couple of quick tips to make your kitchen stand out for the photographer :

• Remove all the clutter from the bench tops and kitchen table
• Make sure the sink is clutter free. That means no dishcloths or hand wash to be seen
• Get rid of the tea towel hanging on the oven door
• Remove all the magnets and bills from the fridge
• Remove all the appliances from the bench tops
• Add some colour to the room, try putting some green apples in a bowl or add some flowers to the bench top
• Freshen up walls and cupboards 
• Wash and shine the oven, stove and kitchen cupboards
• Open the curtains or blinds and make sure window coverings and windows are clean
• Let the light in

                                     

Love this

Great light - So in at the moment

                                                  

Imagine that you are a buyer and you are time poor

Imagine that you are a buyer and you are  time poor and do not have the time to physically inspect homes for sale.These days most buyers start their search online. Most buyers would of viewed your property on the Internet before they have even decided to inspect your property.

 In my opinion its paramount that you have fantastic professional photographs taken of your property . I always encourage my vendors to have professional photography done.

You don't want potential buyers deciding that your property is not for them because they have judged your home from the poor photographs on the Internet or in the real estates window display. Great pictures equal more inspections.

Remember a sale can be lost by one click of a mouse. If your property does not stand out and attract buyers to inspect your home, well my friend unfortunately you have lost a sale.

                               great chandelier

                     Lighting makes a difference

                         
                           Sure to impress

For some instant colour and fragrance

For some instant colour and fragrance place some fresh herbs by the backdoor or on the window sill in the kitchen. Instant WOW not to mention the fresh aroma and the fresh ingredients at your finger tips. If you do not have any herbs in the garden use anything green out of the garden. It is  amazing at what a jug of greenery can do to liven up a dull bench.

                                                                Image  the aroma

I dare you to do something different this month?

 I am going to share with you items and ideas that can enhance your property when you list it for sale.
Changing interiors brings new energy into your property and can help maximise the property value.
The aim of property styling is to sell your property quickly, and for the most amount of money.
 Let's together, make your home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers possible.
I say let's reduce your days on market and style your home to sell. Start at your front door and walk around your property as if you were a buyer. Mmm now what do see that you do not like? Remove it, the clutter, the magnets, the pictures, the piles of junk,  and clean and clean some more!

For more tips talk a wander through my blog

Get organised to sell

Man up and toss it

We all tend to collect allot of junk. Consider this... If you haven't used it in over a year you probably wont need it, or even fit into it again! Get rid of it.

Become a donating queen (or king) help the local Op shop

Have a separate Section for Charity items to donate. I find that piling charity items at the front door will encourage you to get them in the car ASAP.

Depersonalise

Don't forget to hide the nudie Photo's (don't laugh people actually leave them on their walls) oh yeah and the bottles of massage oils etc...

Pack up your personal photographs and family Heirlooms, sorry ladies the teddies on the bed have got to go!

Create a mood

Create a mood with lighting. By leaving your mood-lights on before the open house you create a nice ambiance for the property, you obviously don't want every light in your house turned on but  a few here and there to set the tone. And if you have a fireplace get it burning it creates a very comfy mood. Just make sure you are close by so when the real estate agent leaves you can get home quickly... we don't want any fire mishaps.

Images: Print screens from here.

Three tips for the perfect open home

When your real estate agent holds an open for inspection, it’s your opportunity to let your home shine. Of course the marketing materials, photographs and advertisement copy all do their job, but once someone’s on your property, you want them to fall in love with what they see. Here are our top three tips for making sure your open for inspection is the best it can be.

1. HIGHLIGHT THE BEST BITS

Every home has that special something that makes it unique. If you’re highlighting a view, make sure the curtains are open and that the furniture is positioned in such a way as to draw the eye outwards.

For making note of local attractions, you could leave brochures with the estate agent to show prospective purchasers, or compile a menu book filled with the choices on offer from local restaurants – it’s the little things that count!

2. PLAY TO THE CONDITIONS

Is it winter outside? Yes. So, it wouldn’t be the best idea to leave all the windows open before you leave the house. Of course, in summer, that would be the ideal move. People want to feel comfortable when they walk into what could be their ‘forever home’, so try and emphasise how warm and welcoming your house or apartment is in the winter selling period.

Putting out thick rugs in the lounge and fluffy towels in the bathroom will help those rooms appear to be warmer. Heating helps too! Air conditioners and under-floor heating should be left on to welcome guests, but be careful if you use a gas or space heater at home – don’t leave these unattended!

3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT

When you interview agents prior to listing your property, make sure to ask them about how they would present your home to buyers. Some realtors are stronger than others when it comes to presentation ideas, so make sure to find out their thoughts.

Ask for examples of marketing materials or internal photographs from previous open for inspections they’ve held – this will give you a very realistic picture of what your agent can do for you and your home.

Knowing the road rules prior to the move

Not only are roads completely different in each state (do read up on the rules prior) but people are too. Moving to Sydney? People have limited to no time for your conversations. In Melbourne, not giving way to pedestrians even though you’re not required to is considered a white-collar crime. And in Brisbane, if you don’t know a random stranger’s life story at the end of a bus trip, are you actually even in Brissy?