If you’ve ever prepared a house for sale, you’ll know that in order to fetch top dollar, you need to present the property in the best possible light. But that costs money—so what’s worth doing and what’s not? And how can you get the best return on what you need to do?
Because it’s easy to waste money on improvements that won’t get the return you’d like, let’s start with some don’ts.
1. Don’t neglect to ask for expert advice
Getting an expert’s opinion and guidance can save you thousands and maximise your return on any improvements you make. For example, your local Pzazz Building owner has completed dozens of home renovations and can help you with ideas and inspirations. He or she will be able to tell you what will work and what won’t and what it will all cost. You’ll even be able to get a 3D design video to help you visualise the difference your renovation will make.
2. Don’t DIY
It’s always tempting to try to save money by fixing things up and making improvements yourself. That’s all fine and dandy if you know what you're doing. But unless your DIY skills are fairly advanced, most industry authorities agree that this is one of the biggest mistakes a home owner can make. What happens if you end up making things worse? Or if your patch-up looks just like that – a patch-up?
3. Don’t repaint walls in neutral tones
You may be afraid that that purple feature wall you love so much will turn off potential buyers. But if it works for you – and your renovation expert or real estate agent agree – it may well work for others too. Neutral colours may not be offensive but they can make your home look bland, stealing the character that buyers may be looking for.
So what can you do to get the best possible price?
1. Start with street appeal
2. Think about and remove possible barriers to buying
Sometimes buyers will love most things about a home but one or two other things will put them off enough to walk away. Space is an important consideration. Some of the best ways to increase the value of your home are putting in a deck where there isn’t an existing outdoor area, opening up living space where it is divided into smaller rooms, and adding another bedroom, especially if it’s a two- or three-bedroom home.
3. Focus on improving the ‘functional’ areas
By that we mean the kitchen and bathrooms. These are spaces which potential buyers will picture themselves using. If they don’t feel comfortable in them, that may become the biggest barrier to buying. The average new home in New Zealand now has 2.5 bathrooms, so if you have an older or smaller home with only one bathroom, consider adding another bathroom or at least an ensuite. Putting in a new kitchen or bathroom can pay dividends when it comes to getting your price.
4. Look for little improvements with big results
Sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest results. If you have some peeling paint touched up or have a dent in a wall plastered over, for example. Or even if you put some flowers in a room to brighten it up. You may even want to consider staging your home. Home stagers are experts at using and laying out furniture for best effect and know how important little things are. The jury is still out, though, on whether the aroma of freshly-baked bread makes your home more attractive to buyers.
5. Keep it clean and clutter-free
Less is more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. Removing clutter will make your home look more open and spacious. Remember that virtually nothing is off-limits for some buyers and even the most untidy people will inspect other people’s homes for cleanliness with a critical eye.
