Get the WOW factor

Invest in the wow factor T he next few weeks and months are critical if you're looking to sell your home over the next six months because competition with other properties will be fierce. So, think carefully about what you can do to your property to make it stand out and give it the ‘wow’ factor.

Buyers will have a list of their practical needs, however ‘that feeling’ they get when walking into a home is the most important connection for them to then move forward. And buyers’ have huge expectations with presentation.

Remember, your buyers will be looking at a number of different properties, so it’s important your home supersedes the others. There are many ways to enhance your home, so let’s focus on the interior. I have recently sold a home that was immaculate in every way with furniture, soft furnishings and art, even down to the candle smell and coffee percolating as I arrived for open homes and viewings. For many of us this doesn’t come easy, yet it’s super important to have your interior looking the best it can. There are incredibly good professionals that have an eye for staging and enhancing, and there are three levels of engagement that will increase the value of your home: (1) Home Staging; where experienced stylists come in and dress the property with their own range of high-end furniture and accessories. (2) Home Enhancements; where the stylists will use your existing furnishings combined with their statement pieces. (3) Decluttering; which allows buyers to see the maximum space of each area and gives the best appearance and feel of your home. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in real estate, beauty is clean and easy to view. A staged home will attract higher offers and that’s the key objective.

To understand the costs better, full Home Staging costs approximately $3,000-$4,000 plus GST for a four-bedroom home. This can vary depending on the size of the home. Decluttering is charged on an hourly basis from $100–$140 per hour with an average home taking anywhere between 5–20 hours. Home Enhancement is often a split of the two and very home specific. These options are discussed with you early on so you have a full understanding of what will be achieved. Remember that staging your home will be your biggest and quickest return on investment. The total process from the home being staged, photographed, on the market for a campaign and end date, is roughly 5–6 weeks. You will absolutely achieve a higher sale price as a result and indications suggest $50,000-plus is realistic. I have great connections with staging professionals, so call me now to discuss the option that best suits your home.

From now until Christmas, let’s look at photography. If you're thinking of putting your property on the market this summer, you need to set a marketing strategy now and photography is the key selling tool. Have your marketing photos taken over the next six weeks. Call me to discuss how we can use this time to set the best strategy possible to get you the best result! THE ORIGINAL PET DOOR SPECIALISTS

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Local Mortgage Adviser

“Need lending? Call me, I’m here to help. I work with banks and specialist non-bank lenders to access finance not available direct to the public.”

Karen Renwick: 021 126 7963 karen.renwick@mortgagelink.co.nz www.mortgagelinkalbany.co.nz

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