When selling your home, the way you present it has a massive impact on how it is perceived. 

To help maximise your chances of the sale price you’re hoping for, here are 5 things buyers notice and how you can make sure it doesn’t turn them off.

 


1. How Much Light the Home Has

One thing that is obvious from the moment a buyer walks through the front door is how much light a home has. Dark homes feel closed in and unpleasant, not to mention smaller than they actually are.

If your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light, consider painting the walls in a light, neutral colour. You can also add to this by including lamps or a skylight and even placing some mirrors around your home to help reflect light and open up the space.

 

2. How Much Space There Is

If your entryway is small, that’s going to be the buyer’s first impression. Our tip? Keep it clean and simple. 

You can’t change the square footage of your entryway but there are some easy tricks you can do to make it feel larger. 

Make sure there is no unnecessary clutter and avoid large chairs or tables. Position some artwork or other eye-catching items in the direction of the traffic flow. You can also use a mirror to give the illusion of space.

 

3. What it smells like 

One of the most telling signs of how well a home has been taken care of is the way it smells. 

As soon as the buyer steps through the front door, they will be met with the scent of your home, so make sure it’s fresh and inviting. 

An unpleasant odour such as cigarettes or pet smells can be an immediate (and HUGE) turn-off. Make sure you get a thorough professional clean (especially carpets) before you list the property and air it out as often as possible so that it doesn’t smell stuffy.

 

4. Any Signs of Pets

While we love our pets, some home buyers pets as a red flag that a home hasn’t been well-cared for. This prompts them to look more closely for damages, odours, and other issues.

It’s important to keep your home as spotless and clutter-free as possible while it’s on the market. Pick up food and water bowls, hide toys, put the cat litter somewhere buyers won’t see it! 

 

5. Damages (Stains, Cracks, Etc)

A house is the biggest investment most of us will make in our lifetime. That’s why we want to make sure we are getting a good home for our money and not a money pit. 

Buyers are on the lookout for any signs of damages or repairs they will have to sink money into after signing on the dotted line. They will organise building and pest inspections as a condition of the contract to make sure there isn’t any structural damage or termite infestations. 

To ease their concerns, make sure there are no visible damages anywhere in the home. Fix any squeaky doors, damages in the baseboards and walls, and take care of any other issues, regardless of how minor they may seem to you.

Chances are, they won’t seem minor to a potential home buyer as they look at what else might be an issue that they can’t see. 

Download our free home sellers guide to learn more about maximising your chances of a successful sale.