tori walker shares how to get your property ready for sale...
"Our biggest financial asset is generally our home! You would be very wise to take the time out to prepare your home and give it the attention that it deserves before it hits the real estate market. The saying goes, "FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST" and this could not be any closer to the truth!
People often buy into a lifestyle, not just a home! Take this opportunity to showcase your homes best features and leave space for the buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.
Not sure where you should even begin? Here are some easy ways to prepare your home.
1 - Clean and clutter-free It sounds simple, but a spotless home is an attractive home!Cleaning inside and out as this makes the house look well-cared for.Wash down windows and tidy inside all cupboards.Decluttering items that are not needed (could these be donated?).Remove heavy/ bulky furniture that could be making a room look small.Pack away personal items like photos. 2- Kerb appeal
Put your potential buyers in the right mindset without even seeing the inside of your home.Mowing the lawns regularly, is important throughout the selling process.Weed the gardens and freshly mulch the garden beds.Trim trees/ shrubs if they are looking untidy or out of hand.Fresh plantings look great if you have bare garden beds. 3 - A fresh coat of paint
Repaint bold coloured walls! Stick to safe neutral colours like greys and whites. A fresh coat of paint will lift a room in a big way.It is a great advantage to have the added value of a freshly painted home.Correct scuff marks and wear and tear throughout. 4 - Let there be LIGHT!
You cannot beat the beauty of natural filtered light throughout your home. Rooms will look more spacious and inviting if you allow natural light to enter. So, open the curtains and pull the blinds!If you have small or dim areas add lamps.Replace old or non-working light fittings. 5 - Texture, warmth and appeal!
Finish your home off with adding soft furnishings for visual appearance.Add throws, cushions, crisp white bed linen for a cozy homely feel to instantly change the dynamic of a room.Add recipe books, decor pieces and small potted plants for added style. To sell your home, treat it like a product and display it at its best during an inspection.
Good Luck!" Tori Walker
People often buy into a lifestyle, not just a home! Take this opportunity to showcase your homes best features and leave space for the buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.
Not sure where you should even begin? Here are some easy ways to prepare your home.
1 - Clean and clutter-free It sounds simple, but a spotless home is an attractive home!Cleaning inside and out as this makes the house look well-cared for.Wash down windows and tidy inside all cupboards.Decluttering items that are not needed (could these be donated?).Remove heavy/ bulky furniture that could be making a room look small.Pack away personal items like photos. 2- Kerb appeal
Put your potential buyers in the right mindset without even seeing the inside of your home.Mowing the lawns regularly, is important throughout the selling process.Weed the gardens and freshly mulch the garden beds.Trim trees/ shrubs if they are looking untidy or out of hand.Fresh plantings look great if you have bare garden beds. 3 - A fresh coat of paint
Repaint bold coloured walls! Stick to safe neutral colours like greys and whites. A fresh coat of paint will lift a room in a big way.It is a great advantage to have the added value of a freshly painted home.Correct scuff marks and wear and tear throughout. 4 - Let there be LIGHT!
You cannot beat the beauty of natural filtered light throughout your home. Rooms will look more spacious and inviting if you allow natural light to enter. So, open the curtains and pull the blinds!If you have small or dim areas add lamps.Replace old or non-working light fittings. 5 - Texture, warmth and appeal!
Finish your home off with adding soft furnishings for visual appearance.Add throws, cushions, crisp white bed linen for a cozy homely feel to instantly change the dynamic of a room.Add recipe books, decor pieces and small potted plants for added style. To sell your home, treat it like a product and display it at its best during an inspection.
Good Luck!" Tori Walker
local plumber paul vella on what to look out for when purchasing your new home...
"When purchasing a property it is crucial that inspecting the plumbing is made a priority. When it comes to the plumbing in both new and old properties the purchaser should look beyond just the cosmetic side of things. This is because many places may be newly renovated but this does not mean newly plumbed.
Plumbing repairs can become costly if not detected early, especially in properties which have not been maintained regularly. For most people, buying a property is the biggest purchase they will ever make and the last thing you would want is unexpected plumbing repairs. The most costly repairs include drainage repairs, hot water system updates and water service repairs. The cosmetic issues such as tapware, toilets and vanities are generally much less expensive to repair or replace.
In regards to drainage issues, it's important to perform an internal examination of the drainage system using a sewer camera and locating device. This will allow you to view issues such as the condition of the pipes, if tree roots have invaded or the pipes have moved over time with the ground. Doing such inspection you will be able to identify the exact location of the issues and the depth of which the pipes are in the ground. A sign that indicates a broken sewer pipe is a big healthy patch of grass.
Most hot water units usually last for around 10 years, generally the date of manufacturing will be located on the tank. Each storage hot water system has a pressure relief valve located near the hot outlet, this valve should be maintained by being turned on for a short period of time to allow pressure out of the system, if the first lot of water which comes out has a brownish look to it this means the steel tank is starting to rust away. Another tip is to check the seam lines on the tank for rust spots or bulging caused by internal rust.
Water service leaks can be easily detected by checking the water meter to see if it is ticking over, for much smaller leaks a pressure test can be performed on the hot and cold water services. Most houses built in the 50s, 60s and 70s will have galvanized pipes for the water service, checking the pipework for rust is crucial as the galvanized pipes generally rust from the inside out. This means if there is rust on the outside, you could only imagine what would be on the inside.
When it comes to taps, toilets and vanities it's a great idea to look for any water marks or water damage on the items. Most of the time, toilet cisterns, vanity and kitchen taps are connected with flexible hoses. These hoses should be reviewed and changed every 5 years, any sign of rust on them and they should be changed immediately to prevent any unexpected bursts which can cause damage in the thousands.
For these reasons conducting a plumbing inspection is just as vital as a pest and building inspection when it comes to purchasing a property, as major plumbing issues if not identified early can become costly."
Paul Vella Know Flow PlumbingPhone 0423 444 085www.knowflowplumbing.com.aupaul@knowflowplumbing.com.au
Plumbing repairs can become costly if not detected early, especially in properties which have not been maintained regularly. For most people, buying a property is the biggest purchase they will ever make and the last thing you would want is unexpected plumbing repairs. The most costly repairs include drainage repairs, hot water system updates and water service repairs. The cosmetic issues such as tapware, toilets and vanities are generally much less expensive to repair or replace.
In regards to drainage issues, it's important to perform an internal examination of the drainage system using a sewer camera and locating device. This will allow you to view issues such as the condition of the pipes, if tree roots have invaded or the pipes have moved over time with the ground. Doing such inspection you will be able to identify the exact location of the issues and the depth of which the pipes are in the ground. A sign that indicates a broken sewer pipe is a big healthy patch of grass.
Most hot water units usually last for around 10 years, generally the date of manufacturing will be located on the tank. Each storage hot water system has a pressure relief valve located near the hot outlet, this valve should be maintained by being turned on for a short period of time to allow pressure out of the system, if the first lot of water which comes out has a brownish look to it this means the steel tank is starting to rust away. Another tip is to check the seam lines on the tank for rust spots or bulging caused by internal rust.
Water service leaks can be easily detected by checking the water meter to see if it is ticking over, for much smaller leaks a pressure test can be performed on the hot and cold water services. Most houses built in the 50s, 60s and 70s will have galvanized pipes for the water service, checking the pipework for rust is crucial as the galvanized pipes generally rust from the inside out. This means if there is rust on the outside, you could only imagine what would be on the inside.
When it comes to taps, toilets and vanities it's a great idea to look for any water marks or water damage on the items. Most of the time, toilet cisterns, vanity and kitchen taps are connected with flexible hoses. These hoses should be reviewed and changed every 5 years, any sign of rust on them and they should be changed immediately to prevent any unexpected bursts which can cause damage in the thousands.
For these reasons conducting a plumbing inspection is just as vital as a pest and building inspection when it comes to purchasing a property, as major plumbing issues if not identified early can become costly."
Paul Vella Know Flow PlumbingPhone 0423 444 085www.knowflowplumbing.com.aupaul@knowflowplumbing.com.au