Spring clean your home for a spring property sale

The sunshine is out (mostly!) and spring is in the air. The winter blues are almost over and it’s time to declutter, clean, repair and get into the garden.

Whether you are thinking about selling or renting your property, now is the time to get your property ready for visitors. We have some handy tips to get your house into order:

Minimalism is in

• Have a quick glance around your home and make a checklist of things that you don’t need or haven’t used in a while and either pack or throw away

• De-clutter all surfaces, removing any unnecessary items from view

• Show off your home by focusing on the space, rather than the possessions you own

If you can see it, clean it

• Clean every surface of your home… walls, glass, surfaces

• Dust all areas, ornaments, and even those hard to reach places

• Clean your oven! It’s one of those appliances that is often forgotten

• If you have pets, keep on top of that ‘pet smell’

• Steam clean your carpets and polish your floors

Repair and maintain

• Maintenance can be time consuming, so make a list and prioritise each activity

• Check walls for cracks, paint peeling and water damage

• Clean grout or repair to keep wet areas sparkling

• Patch up holes and leaks

• Check and repair the exterior of your home for damage to walls, fences and the roof

Get into the garden

• Water the garden

• Remove weeds

• Prune all trees, shrubs and bushes

• Check and repair reticulation

• Check your bore if you have one

• Rake and mow the lawn

• Do the edges

• If you have time and the money, plant drought hardy plants and keep the garden as low maintenance as possible

Interior Design

• Get onto Pinterest and research some easy styling options for your interiors

• Remove old and worn ornaments

• Try to create a ‘theme’ for each room, to maintain consistency

• Your home is going to be photographed, so keep this in mind when deciding what items you are happy to have on show

Having potential buyers through

• Scent: make sure your house smells fresh and clean. You can use sprays or diffusers but don’t over do it

• Some people believe the smell of bread baking or muffins can sway a potential customer, so get your baking on

• Keep pets at a friend’s place. You can’t count on them being well-behaved in your absence

• Do you have a space that needs filling, perhaps some temporary furniture may be an option

Final tips

• Get your agent, as well as a few close friends to give you their opinion on your styling

• Plan your inspections in advance

• Have some backup options for pet-sitting

• Most of all, keep it simple. Selling, or renting can be stressful, so the more you minimise in your home, the easier it will be

Need help with your next investment?

PEB Property Group can help you get the investors edge and become a smart property investor with a free consultation.

We come to you!

PEB Property Group is a complete financial planning advisory service for Perth families. Offices are located in Inglewood and Willetton, Perth, Western Australia and offer – Financial Planning · Finance Broking · Property Management · Real Estate Sales · Property Investment · Development.

Disclaimer: Any advice contained in this article is of a general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. Therefore, before making any decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regard to those matters. Information in this edition is correct as of the date of publication and is subject to change.