Are you thinking about selling in 2023? If so, planning to sell earlier rather than later in the year could be your best strategy. Not only are buyers generally more motivated at the start of a new year, but in the current climate of rising interest rates, you are more likely to harness potential buyers’ maximum buying power to secure your desired price.
With this in mind, we share some simple steps you can take over the upcoming holiday period to help prepare your home for a new year sale.
Make any necessary repairs
Take a close look around your property for any faults and damages that can easily be repaired. Changing old fixtures such as lights, door handles and tapware can make a place seem newly updated. Buyers want to know the home has been well looked after, so the holidays are a great time to get onto those fiddly small jobs you’ve repeatedly been putting off. Check all the lights work, spray any creaking doors, repair cracked tiles and replace broken blinds and flyscreens.
Give the home a refresh
Hiring professionals to tackle things like carpet steaming and mould removal can really help to save time, particularly if you have a larger home. Focus on key areas such as kitchens and bathrooms – these are the spaces we know sell homes! If you have a unique colour scheme or retro wallpaper, add a fresh coat of paint, opting for a neutral palette such as whites and greys. Not only will this help the property to feel bigger, brighter and accentuate its best features, it will also help buyers imagine themselves living there.
Up your curb appeal
There’s good reason they say first impressions count. When prepping your home for sale, look at the façade and garden through a buyers’ lens. Is it well-manicured? Does it need a fresh coat of paint? It’s time to get your hands dirty. Tidying up the front and back garden, raking old leaves, pruning shrubs, and adding a few flowering plants can really help lift a property’s street appeal. Scrubbing pavers and pathways (or using a pressure hose) for a deep clean and fixing the front fence can all make a difference.
Get the family involved
The summer school holidays are a good time to get the home in order, with more hands-on deck to help. Get older kids involved in sorting through their things, encouraging them to donate anything they are no longer using. Decluttering instantly makes a house feel cleaner and more spacious. In general, buyers prefer viewing a property as a blank canvas they can put their own stamp on. Closer to your sale period make sure to pack away any personal items, organise bedroom closets and cabinets and consider staging the property to achieve a higher price.
Research local agents
Understanding your local market is crucial when selling a property. Those considering selling their home in the new year should start their research early and engage an agent who deeply understands the local market and buyer behaviour. Speaking to well-regarded local agents will help you understand the best approach to selling your property, and provide realistic insight in to how prices are moving.
The process of selling can sometimes feel daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone. Speak to your local Belle Property office today for advice and assistance with your sale, including an obligation-free appraisal of your home’s current value.
