30 Tips To Selling Your Home (PART I)

STEP ONE – The Preparation

1. Always present a clean house. Most people do this automatically but first impressions make a world of difference. A clean house is a welcoming house. Beyond the basics, cleaning the carpets and curtains, and of course the windows. Consider professional cleaners, as they can do a great job while you enjoy a glass of wine by the beach!
2. Clear the clutter – Removing all of those personal little nick-nacks will help make rooms look larger, cleaner and brighter. You don’t have bin anything you want to keep—box them up and store them ready for your own move, to bring out again in your new home.
3. Tidy the cupboards – Cupboards are a great place to hide personal belongings when tidying your home but a potential buyer will want to look in them to work out the practicality of storing their belongs if they were to buy it.
4. Jet Wash the terraces – Portugal boasts 300 days of sunshine and thus your buyer will spend a lot of time outside on those terraces. Clean and tidy terraces give a positive feeling allowing viewers to picture their own BBQ’s there, or just enjoying the sun with a good book.
5. Deal with the mould. Properties in Portugal often suffer from higher humidity, which, coupled with many properties not being used all year round, means mould can quickly form. It is important to deal with this, making sure the property is well ventilated to prevent it returning quickly. The look and smell of damp will put buyers off, or lower their offers.
6. Consider given the kitchen a makeover. This is one of the home’s most important rooms, and freshening up those kitchen cupboards with a spot of paint or new handles can give it a more welcoming feel.
7. A fresh coat of paint – giving your home a complete paint inside and out completely refreshes the look of the property. Choose neutral colours, to give buyers a blank canvas—and give you a chance to address any dents and cracks!
8. Make sure your home is well lit. Adding extra light around the home with brighter bulbs to brighten up dark spaces will definitely help revitalise it.
9. De-personalise your home. Try to present a neutral environment. Your buyer will have their own style and it will not always agree with yours. This is a tough one, because while you’re selling your home you might still be living there, and want it to still feel like home. But try to minimise it a little. Have some of your items ready to pull in and out before and after viewings.
10. Make sure your fridge is clean. Properties are often sold with the white goods included so giving the appliances a good clean will suggest more perceived value to a buyer and help keep those offers a little higher.
11. Clear all kitchen and bathroom surfaces– making your home appear fresh, clean and spacious. So, remove all those items from your kitchen and bathroom tops to help improve the room’s appearance.
12. Look to the detail – Buyers often check smaller details, and spending a small amount of money to freshen things like electrical wall sockets and switches (are they matching and in good order, do the door handles need polishing or tightening, do the hinges need a little oil) does pay off.
13. The Garden. Much of your buyer’s time will be spent outside enjoying the sunshine, and giving the garden some love will pay dividends. Mow the lawns, add some extra grass seed and fertiliser to give the lawn a fuller look. Tidy those flower beds and add more colourful plants and flowers, and your buyer will look forward to spending time out there.
14. Concentrate on the pool. A house with a pool is a major consideration for most buyers, so make sure it is full of clean water and of course safe to use. Does the pool have any obvious damage—missing tiles, does it need a new pump, does it have a regular pool clean. These are important points.
15. Make sure to clear those pests – Clearing those spiders from the corners, making sure those pesky ants are kept at bay. Getting these issues cleared will help to not put off potential buyers on the walk round.
16. First impressions: The entrance to your property is key; weed your driveway, jet wash your front garden path, hide those rubbish bins, freshen up the front gate and door. Make your home look welcoming from the moment they walk up to it.
17. Put away those precious items. Nobody would think you are opening your home to potential thieves, but for security it is best to put any valuable items out of sight before viewers arrive. After all, they are strangers, and it doesn’t hurt to be careful.
18. The paperwork – Make sure your paperwork is in order. Do you have an energy certificate, do you have copies of all the receipts for the works in your home, to knock off against any capital gains taxes. Check with your lawyer to ensure you have everything ready to sell.
19. Appoint a good Real Estate Agent—clearly, one of the most important factors. Working with the wrong agent can dramatically affect your potential to sell, and the price you achieve. Consider the agent’s history in the area, do they understand your property and the local market, what is their global reach, do they have a good local team, how do they market the property, what partnerships do they hold locally and globally to display your property. Do they have more than one office, is it worth considering exclusivity with them. Understand that the commission they charge should not be the first thing you consider. The wrong agent, an agent without good marketing and good partnerships, will lose you more than the commission you could save if/when sold.