WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT BUYERS FIRST IMPRESSIONS WOULD BE.  A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT DECLUTTERING, CLEANING,  AND REFRESHING GOES ALONG WAY!!!

• How does the outside of your home present, is it worth a second look? An inviting entrance creates an important first impression!

• Check that things such as roofing, guttering, paint, woodwork and paving are all in good condition. Spending money to fix these things can potentially mean extra money in your pocket come sale time.

• Clean windows or any glass balustrades you may have. Also consider having your house professionally cleaned, this is an inexpensive way to instantly lift its appearance.

• Mow the lawn regularly, particularly before an open home, trim hedges, rake up the leaves, if you have a pool make it sparkle and hide away any pool equipment.

• If you are selling a tenanted property, consider offering the tenant a cleaner to come once or twice a week before the open for inspection. It is money worth spending and a good way to keep your tenant on side.

• Bathrooms and kitchens are the most scrutinised by buyers, ensure they are pristine and remove any personal items. Soap scum, mould, old shower curtains and dirty bathroom mirrors should be cleaned, removed or replaced!

• Make all the beds, fluff the cushions, vacuum floors, dust shelves and remove cobwebs that may be lurking inside and out.

• Ensure your home maximises light no matter what time of the day it is. Open the curtains and check all light bulbs are working. If you’re holding an evening inspection, light up your garden and consider using a few candles inside to further enhance the ambience.

• Selling your home is a great time for a spring clean, less clutter creates an impression of space so remove anything you don’t want to take to your new home. Most local councils will come and collect your rubbish free of charge or for a small fee. Another option is to consider giving your unnecessary household items to a charity, such as The Salvation Army or to hire a self storage space to de-clutter during the sale process.

• Pet odours and hair can be a big turn off for buyers so ensure there is no trace of your pet during inspections. This may mean steam cleaning carpet, hiding away their food and water bowl, toys and bedding

BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME OR NEXT HOME DOESN'T NEED TO BE STRESSFULL

BEING PRACTICAL 

• Remember to look at all aspects of the property. It is about balancing the pros and cons as no property will ever be perfect.

• Consider who your neighbours are going to be, parking availability, any repairs or renovations needed, future development planned for the surrounding area, proximity to amenities like shops and transport, noise pollution from traffic and aircraft and the overall street appeal.

• Choosing the right area to buy in is important and not just from a capital growth point of view. Where you live becomes a big part of your life and essentially forms the lifestyle you live. Consider the distance you are prepared to travel to work every day, is there a direct public transport route? Are there adequate amenities for your needs and your family? Find out where the nearest hospitals, schools, shopping centres and recreational spaces are all located. These things all have an impact on your everyday life and happiness.

• Be prepared to act quickly, especially once you have found the property you want. Whether it is the first property you spot or you’ve been looking every weekend for a year, if it feels right, is in your price range and you’ve done the necessary checks then go for it before someone else beats you to it.

• If you are interested in a property, keep up communication with the agent. Make sure they know you are interested so you don’t miss out to another buyer who was more proactive. Give yourself every chance of buying it.

• Try not to let your emotions get in the way, which is sometimes easier said than done. If you feel you have become too emotionally attached to a property, ask a friend or family member to bid on your behalf.  It is better to play it safe and always consider future events that could impact on your ability to repay your loan, like job security, interest rates rises, health and starting a family.

• Know when to compromise, when to stand your ground and when to walk away. Waiting for the perfect property to come along could take forever, settling for less than perfect now could mean moving up the property ladder a whole lot quicker.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK 

• Obtain pre-approved for a loan so you know exactly how much you can spend before you even begin your search

• You may have fallen in love with a property but be sure to do your research before getting too attached or making an offer.

• Understand the market you want to buy in. Websites like www.qv.co.nz, www.zoodle.co.nz, www.ljhooker.co.nz, www.realestate.co.nz offer fantastic resources when researching the property market.

• Understand the practicalities of buying a home and the sales process prior to making an offer or bidding at an auction. Read up on how auctions work and tips on bidding, the same goes for making an offer on a property for sale by private treaty.

• Create a list of all the properties to keep track of what you’ve looked at, the features of each property and the asking price so you can compare the pros and cons of each property and what you may need to compromise on.

PROTECT YOURSELF 

• We highly recommend getting an independent building inspection report done, as well as a strata report if applicable or the body corporate minutes if you are buying an apartment.

• For apartment buyers, a strata title report will show you the records of the strata scheme, which can include any special levies proposed in the future that you may be required to contribute to, a history of the building’s maintenance work, as well as the amount of money in the sinking and administration funds.

• Never sign anything you do not understand. It is best to have your solicitor or conveyancer review the contract before you sign an offer to purchase or exchange.

WORDS FROM RACHEL'S CLIENTS.

“Rachel also impressed me with her ability in presenting my house in the way she added her special touch, whether it was doing something visually to add appeal to it's presentation, or by making anyone viewing the house feel relaxed and in a comfortable environment”

“She has great standards which was important. She ensured that our house was up to high presentationstandards and would have the house welcoming with her own touches be it a scented candle or soft music playing”

"Rachel is an excellent communicator and kept me well informed throughout the entire process as to what was going on, both in person and via detailed reports of any prospective buyers and their feedback"

“We found Rachel to have a refreshing new approach to Real Estate, and never felt pressured into anything with her on our side”

“I would not hesitate to use Rachel's Real Estate skills and knowledge in the future either as a vendor or buyer”

“She's a one in a million salesperson and we will definitely recommend her to our friends and family”

423 Titirangi Road

Titirangi

Auckland 0604

M: 027 322 1298

T:  09 817 8011

E: rking.titirangi@ljh.co.nz

www.titirangi.ljhooker.co.nz

FB: King of the West