Ten tips to make the right first impression with house hunters!
Make your open home a success with these tips!
1. DE-PERSONALISE
Buyers want to picture themselves living in a property, so remove anything that’s too personal, like family photos.
2. DE-CLUTTER
Less is more. Remove ornaments that make the place feel cluttered, keep the kitchen benches clear and get rid of the pile of coats or shoes you usually keep by the front door.
3. LIGHTEN UP
Make the place feel open and inviting by turning the lights on and opening curtains and blinds. On a sunny day open doors leading to outdoor entertaining areas.
4. THINK ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS
Small touches can make all the difference. Remove your half-empty shampoo bottles from the shower, tuck away your toothbrushes, remove washing from the line and pop the toilet seat down.
5. AMP UP THE STREET APPEAL
Make the right kind of first impression by ensuring the front of your property is tidy and well presented. A fresh lick of paint on the front fence and water blasting the front deck are easy ways of making the place look its best. Consider hiring some eye-catching potted plants to cost-effectively add a drop of style.
6. CLEAN UP
It might seem obvious, but give the place a thorough spring clean. That includes organising the insides of your cupboards and wardrobes as house hunters will take a peek inside.
7. THINK ABOUT YOUR PETS
Sure, your family loves Oscar the poodle, but potential buyers might not. Get the carpet shampooed to remove any odours and keep your pets off the property during open homes.
8. MAKE EVERY ROOM COUNT
Buyers won’t be able to picture themselves hosting a dinner party if your dining room is piled high with storage boxes or filing cabinets. Make sure every room is selling itself. Put beds in all the bedrooms and clear out the “stuff” that has collected in your garage.
9. FIX EVERYTHING ON YOUR "I'LL GET AROUND TO IT" LIST
Is the latch on the front gate broken? Does the lock on the bathroom door not work? Have old screws left holes in the wall? Patch up and repair the small issues around your home, so buyers see the property’s potential and not the list of DIY they’ll have to sign up to.
10. HOME STAGING
Consider hiring a professional staging company to really bring your house to life. Interior design know-how goes a long way in making a home look its best. A statement couch and on-trend accessories can help your property feel more modern, increasing the emotional appeal of the property in the buyer’s mind.
Poll: Have you ever had a scary flight?
A plane flying from Christchurch to Wellington on Sunday had smoke billowing out of the engine and upon landing, passengers had to open the emergency exit and jump out. Have you had any scary flying experiences?
-
56.7% Yes!
-
43.3% No, it's always been smooth flying
ALEXANDER ROAD SPEED LIMIT
Alexander Road in Trentham-Wallaceville of which 50% separates a golf course from a military encampment enclosure and the rest has mostly high fenced off industrial and residential areas on both sides, should have a 70km speed restriction.
Only a short time ago the road had a 80km restriction and was reduced to a pedestrian 50km much to the frustration of many. It has never been an accident prone stretch of road.
The several round-abouts ensure speed is reduced to 30-40km when these things occur.
I recently stayed a few days in Feilding - often given the title of the best town in NZ - and one of the lengthy main streets has a 70km speed restriction despite a predominance of unfenced residential properties on both sides.
LIVE Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
Today (Wednesday) we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions now and Cat will reply to your comment below ↓
Loading…
