Make sure you do your homework on properties being sold in the area through materials such as newspapers and the Internet. Taking note of houses with similar features to yours, and gather all the data under different headings such as suburb, property size, position, condition, age, etc.

It is definitely worth getting an independent evaluation done (by someone that is not a real estate agent) to ensure you don’t over or under value your property.

Sit down with all the owners of the property and decide the minimum price you would settle for. This will be useful information when you are negotiating final prices and make it easier to say no.

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Put Signage Up in Front of Your Property
Signage is one of the most important parts of selling a house. It is also the area where people decide to save money and make a sign themselves, not realising the impact will have. This is why Albany Property Sell-it-yourself packages include a professional sign for you to erect in front of your property and if you live within a 50km radius of Albany we will come and install it for you (conditions apply, please contact us for more information).


Possible Improvements to be Made Before Selling: Preparing Your Home “For Sale”
Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes- first impressions are everything. Read through our checklist and systematically walk through the house and take note of what must be done before any home opens.

Outside

• The front of your house is the first thing potential buyers will see. Stand at the end of your drive way and try to view it from an outsiders perspective – does it like inviting? Would they be proud to call it home?
• Lawn: must be tidy. Ensure that all lawn areas are mowed with the edges trimmed and free of weeds, leaves and branches.
• Garden: a layer of fresh mulch in the garden can make a garden bed look new again.
• Fences and Gates: must be in working order and may require repainting.
• House: the outside of the house may need a fresh coat of paint. Make sure the roof and gutters have no leaves or debris and that the roof has no broken or missing tiles.
• Driveway: must be swept the morning of inspection or open house. Ensure there are no oil stains or weeds and fix any broken bricks or cracks.
• Windows: wash all windows and check that none are cracked, and that the flyscreens are  all in piece.
• The Door: literally the gateway to the house. It might be worth repainting the door and its frame. Make sure that the doorbell works and that the doormat is clean. Fresh pot plants by the front door make the place seem inviting and friendly and may be worth investing in.

Inside

• The most important thing is to make sure your house is clean. Walk through the house and look for anything that needs fixing – broken doors, leaky taps, squeaky hinges. If you can find it, potential buyers will too.
• Declutter:  make the house look as big as you can by removing all excess furniture – especially those pieces that have seen better days. It may be worth investing in a storage unit for a short period of time. Any unwanted items can be donated to charity or sold at a garage sale.
• Clean the walls: get out the sugar soap and a scrubbing brush and remove all dirty marks and stains. If they don’t look clean by the time you’ve finished then you’ll need to give them a fresh coat of paint.
• Clean all curtains and drapes
• Clean your carpet and rugs: either hire a carpet shampoo machine from your local hardware store or a professional to do it for you.
• Check your doors: that they open and close fully and properly and that the doorknobs are tight. Check for any old stickers or residue and repaint if necessary.
• Check your plumbing: you might be used to the strange sounds coming from your laundry or bathroom, but chances are any potential buyers are not and will pick up on it immediately. This also goes for rust, water stains and dripping taps.
• Bathroom: Scrub all surfaces until they sparkle, and make sure you clean all grout, redoing any bits that need replacing.
• Wardrobes: people are always interested in how much space is in wardrobes – so be prepared. Take all non-essentials to the storage unit, and remove anything that is not deemed appropriate for the public eye.
• Check all light switches: they must all be clean and obviously work!

Right before they arrive

• Beware of scents: To make the house seem homely, make a fresh pot of tea or coffee. If anyone living in the house is a smoker, encourage them to only smoke outside and use an air freshener in the house a few minutes before anyone arrives.
• Fresh flowers: a vase of flowers really brightens up a room and gives a fresh look that shows you care about your home.
• Pets: people are often allergic or afraid of dogs and cats. Make sure that they are either outside or off the premises during any inspections, and that there are no fleas on the animals or in the house.

Major Improvements
Most renovations will cost you more to do than what you will gain from it. They will also delay your sale. The cheapest and one of the most efficient ways to get your house looking like new is to give it a new lick of paint.

Building and Pest Reports
Most buyers will want to see a recent building and pest report. This will facilitate the fast sale of your property as you can deal with any issues or repairs as needed prior to putting your house on the market.

Information Sheet for Buyers
Draw up an information sheet listing the features and benefits of your property. For example: ensuite bathroom, built-in cupboards, lock-up garage, new kitchen appliances etc. Make sure you also include Information on details that are not easily viewed on Inspection. Eg: land and house dimensions, sun aspect, underfloor heating, polished floorboards under carpet, ceiling insulation, distance to local shops and schools etc Don't forget to add your contact details to this sheet so that buyers can contact you if they have any further questions.

Open For Inspection
Open Houses are a great way to advertise and create interest in your property. The best time is generally a Saturday afternoon when people aren’t working, but prepare to be open for midweek inspections as requested.
Make sure you put a small advertisement in the real estate section of your local paper, and/ or put up signs in the front yard. Consider using directional signs such as the ones used for garage sales at intersections near you. Check with your local council to make sure you adhere to all regulations.

When the Day Arrives: Tips
Have plenty of the previously prepared Information Sheets to hand out to all prospective buyers
Don’t follow people around, let them explore the house by themselves. Let them know on arrival that you are available to answer any questions should they require.
Avoid discussing prices. Inform all prospective buyers that you will only take written offers from qualified buyers.

Safety Tips
Opening the door of your home to a group of strangers can be a dangerous thing if the wrong type of people attend. A few precautions can be taken to try to decrease your risk of theft or vandalism:

• Make specific times for any inspections. If you have people come  outside of this time, ask them to make an appointment and return at a later time.
• Agree on a limit of people in the house at any one time, and stick to it.
• Remove all valuables. Either put them in a safety deposit box or a trusted family member or friend to mind.
• Make sure you’re never alone. Either ask a friend or family member to attend with you, or inform them of when you are planning on having the open house and a time to ring to let them know that everything went well.
• Don’t tell anyone when you will be not home, and avoid giving out the home phone number so people can check if you are home or not. Use a mobile number where possible.
• Don’t forget that it is ultimately your decision if people enter or not. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t let them in.

Remember, this is the first impression people will get of your property. If you don’t have a digital camera of your own, it is worth borrowing one from a friend for taking photos of your property ready to upload to the site.  Here are some tips to make sure you are able to take photos that will sell your home.

What to take photos of:
Front of House
 Living areas
Kitchen
Master Bedroom and Ensuite
Bathrooms
Pool
Outside entertaining
Back Yard
Any Views or other distinguishing features of your property

Presentation
Always make your house look as presentable as possible when taking photos. Make sure everything is clean and tidy, and try to remove personal items such as photos from view.
Prepare your home for photos as you would for an open house. For information on how to do this, click here.

Lighting
Lighting can make or break a photo. Always use flash, and try to make sure you take the photos on a sunny day (especially important for outside shots). However, always stand with your back to the sun to avoid over-exposure.
When taking photos inside, turn on all available lights- even when using flash, but avoid flooding the photo with light by making the feature of the photo a light source.

Camera Settings
Always take photos at the highest resolution the camera is capable of. You can reduce the size later on the computer, but you cannot increase the quality. AlbanyProperty.com.au will automatically reduce the size of your photos for use on the site as long as they are below 5MB each. Just keep in mind that the higher resolution the photo the longer it will take for you to upload.

Positioning the Camera
Always keep the camera level with what it is you are taking a photo of. Consider the use of a tripod if you don’t have a steady hand.