Let's face it, selling your home is a huge decision with unquestionably a lot of ‘what if’s’ when trying to get yourself sorted.
I bet you’ve been checking out new homes on the web, and maybe on closer inspection, you’ve become a little more terrified of the thought of ‘how am I ever going to make my home look as amazing as them’?
Well turns out, you’re not the only one!
So you’re selling your home and you want the whole world to fall in love with it because you’ve invested in it and want the best possible price.
Of course you do and well, who wouldn’t? It could be argued that the way you present your home for sale really doesn’t make a difference. It is a hotly debated topic for discussion and the short answer is a defining YES, it really does.
A recent discussion with Homeseeka agent Martin Rivett revealed, “Nothing gets a buyer more intrigued than the smell of fresh paint”.
Love or loathe painting, it really can quickly transform a tired or scuffed space into a fresh and clean area. Generally, you can smell fresh paint, so it appeals to the senses and makes the buyer aware that recent works have been done to keep a well maintained home.
So what’s in the value of a coat of paint and what part does it play? Luckily for me, I’ve been able to call on a wealth of knowledge in the form of real estate agents I work with.
Tracey Wake and I recently discussed why a property wasn’t selling, the property was great. It had everything you could want in a modern home, two living with a huge open plan main living area, an en suite, walk in robe, there was land, shedding, believe me it had the works, or at least I thought so. Plenty of buyers were visiting the home and liking it.
Turns out that even though it had so much going for it, it just felt a little tired which in turn left a fraction of doubt in the mind of the viewer.
So here are my top tips on getting your home spruced up with a little bit of paint, so you’re ready for sale.
- Choose a neutral colour. We all have a favourite colour but painting your walls fire engine red in preparation for a sale isn’t such a great idea. Keep the palette light, bright and neutral so the buyer can envisage their own furniture in the home.
- Take a closer look at your passageways, stairwells, kitchen and bedroom entrance ways, are they looking a tad scuffed? If cleaning them doesn’t remove those scruffy marks then consider retouching the walls and skirting with some paint. Be sure to colour match your paint and use the same product that has already been used in that area. There’s a good chance that you’ve kept the leftover paint somewhere and if it’s gone hard, you can always grab the paint brand and colour from it. If you’re really stuck take the can into your local paint store and they’ll get you sorted.
- Do yourself a favour, before you commit to painting, grab a ‘Chux Spot Cleaner Magic Eraser’. These magic little wonder blocks are awesome at removing the bulk of those serious marks and will, in turn, make painting touch ups cover like a breeze.
- Don’t overlook the exterior of the home. What condition is your front door or external front entranceway in? Spruce it up, after all these are the first things your buyer will see when entering the home, be sure to make a great first impression. Think about using a trusty can of spray paint for some areas that are small and need a quick tidy up, like mail boxes.
- And don’t forget to use drop sheets in all areas, especially outdoors, paint is hard to get off once it’s dry, especially on porous materials like wood, pavers and concrete, and don’t even start me on the carpet.
- Preparation is key, write a list of what needs to be done, see what products you already have that can be reused. Head to one of the local paint stores and have a chat about your painting plans, not only are they knowledgeable but will get you sorted with the equipment and products to get the job done.
You’ve only got one chance to make a great first impression, so make it the best it can be. GOOD LUCK!
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