WHEN it comes to selling your home, it needs to stand out from the competition. So, before you start looking for an estate agent, follow these value-adding tips.
1. Revamp the entrance
First impressions count, particularly if you are about to put your house on the market.
By painting the front door in a strong colour, such as red or blue, updating doorway furniture and the entrance mat, you are sending a message that your home is up-to-date and well maintained before anyone even crosses the threshold.
2. Refresh with paint
Painting the interior can lift the mood of your house and it is inexpensive if you are willing to do the work.
If your budget allows, tackle walls yourself and get professionals in to do the ceilings.
If you are taking the DIY approach, tackle one room at a time.
3. Update flooring
Getting carpets cleaned can make a huge amount of difference to the look (and smell) of a home, so calling in the professionals is well worth considering. However, no amount of cleaning is going to lift a floor covering beyond its use-by date, so it may be time to replace what you have got.
4. Quick kitchen fixes
New cupboard doors and handles update a kitchen in a budget-friendly way.
Another option is to replace the benchtop but consider what will work with your floor.
5. Replace splashback
Sometimes making one major change in the kitchen is enough to lift the whole room, so if you do not want to mess with the cabinetry, cast an objective eye over the splashback as it is a way to inject some personality into the room without going over the top.
Glass splashbacks are still popular but, at about half the price, acrylic is a cheaper alternative. The only limitation is that acrylics cannot be used directly behind stoves.
6. Change the light switches
Often, it is the details that count and standard white light switches tend to look yellow over time. Getting an electrician to replace them is not a costly exercise and you can often pick up everything you need at a big hardware store, so the major cost will be labour.
7. Rethink window treatments
Sometimes you do not realise how grubby a window is until it is obvious. In the meantime, the dirt is building up and affecting the quality of light.
Get the glass sparkling, check latches are working correctly and contact a glazier if any panes are cracked or need replacing.
8. Makeover the bathroom
“You can get a quick lift by replacing the toilet, sink and tapware,” Amanda Falconer, author of The Renovator's Survival Guide, said.
“A new toilet gives the impression of cleanliness and a new sink and taps can also help turn an ordinary or tired bathroom into something more modern. There are sinks of almost any shape and colour available, but more organic shapes are the current trend.”
9. Fit new taps
If the bathroom and kitchen are in good shape but just in need of a little updating, look at the taps. By fitting new, good-looking, matching taps, or taps that link aesthetically, you are bringing a sense of cohesion to the house. Good taps also suggest good plumbing.
10. Groom the garden
Winter is the perfect time to pull on the garden gloves and get stuck into the backyard.
After a general tidy up, look at any gaps in planting that need to be dealt with.
If you’re putting the house up for sale, gather reasonably established potted plants to fill up these holes as you can take them with you when you go.