5 Expert Tips To Make Sure Your Home Sells

WORDS Annemarie Meintjies

There are many amazing homes on the market to choose from. The obvious reasons why some sell faster than others is because they tick all the usual boxes, like being close to schools/work, etc. But mostly, buyers are looking for a lifestyle. Here are 5 expert tips to make sure your home sells. They picture themselves in the home from the moment they enter the garden. They can see themselves having a Saturday lunch under that tree, becoming a master chef in that kitchen, lying in that bath for hours…

So, it’s the emotional stuff that you should pay attention to when you put your house on the market. If you’re thinking of selling, take note of these handy tips before your house goes on show.

1. De-clutter your home.Don’t cut the homeliness, but go minimalistic on paraphernalia and personal collections. The idea is to turn your home into a cosy, private hotel that the new owners can just move into and relax. Order a RedBin (a skip) and remove whatever is not in use on the property. Box unnecessary objects in your home and drop them off at your nearest Hospice. If you haven’t used it in the past two years, you never will.

2. A beautiful garden is always a winner.You might not have time to grow a rose garden before your first open-house day, but landscape designers specialising in grasses can help you create an instant veld. Nothing is as romantically appealing than the idea of a private hideout in the middle of nowhere (like the Joburg Highveld home we featured in our GREENOVATION issue (VISI 72).

3. You might need someone to cast a fresh eye on your home and update certain spaces by simply moving a few items around (or out altogether). An interior stylist will be able to guide you through the process.

4. If you are into DIY and want to try your hand at making a few changes before putting your home on the market, you’ll definitely have fun with these ideas from VISI 64:

• Make an outdoor lunch table from recycled wood, for under the tree or any other cosy spot in the garden. You can also hang a swinging daybed. Here’s how to do it.
• Wallpaper an accent wall, a guest toilet, a spare room or the kitchen. Play with deborahbowness.com‘s Designer Frocks range for starters.
• Decant shampoos and other labelled plastic bottles, clad a small bathroom in mirror or simply add something quirky to the bathroom. Here’s a smart idea you can try.
• Installing an outside shower is always a great idea!
• Paint an accent wall or the doors in your home. Be eccentric and paint a room in the house in a bold, strong colour (like red). Think the ceiling, walls, floor, and inside of the door, creating a colour box of sorts. Or paint the interiors of your entire home white. You will be amazed how good your furniture looks on a white floor. (You might not want to sell anymore!)
• You can also paint the walls with LED self-adhesive light strips. It’s great for dark passages. Warning: unless you are a colour wizard, don’t be tempted to play with more than one colour. Rather settle for LEDs with one colour setting so that the new owner can choose a colour for themselves.
• If you have extra budget for a lighting change/upgrade, invest in new, eye-catching fittings. Le Grange Interiors and Weylandts have a huge selection to choose from. If you haven’t budgeted for lighting upgrades, choose one prominent light fitting for the entrance hall/lounge corner/dining room and copy my favourite idea of dressing a naked light bulb. Use trendy copper wire.

5. When the big open-day arrives, make sure your home smells of beeswax, Cobra polish, freshly ground coffee, freshly baked cookies or bread and a hint of a holistic spa fragrance in the bathroom. Ban room sprays and fragrances, as well as other commercial smelly things  – too many people suffer from hay fever and it may cost you the sale!

Click here for more information about prepping your home for an open-house.