Home Front Decoration

So you have decided to give the house a quick spruce up before you put it on the market? It can be a good idea – but more often than not people spend too much money and time- more than can recouped in an increased sales price. So here are my five top tips for getting a house ready for sale:

Clean Don’t Decorate

Yup – all being equal an extremely good cleaning may do more for your property’s presentation than expensive new paint and carpets. Shiny clean windows let the light in – clean walls make a room look larger.

The Front Door Matters

If you paint just one thing – make it the front door or the entry porch. First impressions do count and this is where your visitor makes their decision for better or worse. While you are at it fix broken rusted fittings, cracked windows and wonky door bells.

Save the Off-Beat Colours for Your Next Home

You love burnt orange and purple? Your teen loves their black bedroom. I’m not going to debate you – but most of your potential buyers will hate it – neutral is not exciting but it doesn’t annoy and that’s the first rule of decorating to sell. I have walked away from homes which have been obviously newly decorated in expensive and over-the-top style – a style I hated on sight. If the decoration had been older I would have re-done it without a thought – but it takes a strong character to re-redecorate a new fit out – especially if the asking price matches the perceived value of the fit out!

Tidy the Outside Patio or Deck Area

Landscaping often adds more value than interior renovations :- major money is much better spend outside (or inside creating a better indoor-outdoor flow) – than in replacing bathrooms or kitchens.

Hide or Remove Don’t Replace

Nasty stain on the carpet? Add attractive (and cheap) Mexican rug. Ugly wallpaper – paint over it. Blinds past their use-by-date – get rid of them – the new owners can decide whether they need blinds in that room.

Remember this house is one your are letting go: – so let it go – a little decoration can help a sale – but a brand new kitchen or bathroom suite is unlikely to make you your money back. Save that money for the new place where you will enjoy the use of those new fittings!

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