Before you sell your home do the hard yards

BEFORE YOU SELL YOUR HOME

Before you sell what will you focus on?

When we sell in the Dandenong Ranges we want to get the absolute maximum for our home. Depending on where we intend moving to, our selling price may leave us short for our new home purchase. Equally, we may move to a more affordable area, it is worth spending time thinking about where you want to move to and what you want to buy. A strong price means we need to do the hard yards, more than decluttering or presentation, we should look at the actual structure, all the little things that we ignore when we live in a place yet a buyer will spot. 

BEFORE YOU SELL, THINK ABOUT YOUR BUYER

Buyers moving to the Dandenongs often come from the suburbs. They are used to street lights, sealed roads and sewerage systems. They are less accustomed to the impact of our rainforest conditions on our homes and gardens. They look to the superficial more than the maintenance. 

We are told to place emphasis on the street presentation and the garden leading to the front door. First impressions still count in the Hills. Everyone wants a home that will show family and friends that they have made a good choice. You may love your overgrown, private garden however buyers want to be able to find your front door and not encounter jungle type conditions to get there. They also don’t want to slip on pavers or timber. 

If a buyer finds a flaw then they will look for more. If the flaw or flaws are big enough then it will put them off buying or make them reduce the price they are prepared to pay. . 

PRE-SALE BUILDING AND PEST INSPECTION

Before we sell we will be getting a building and pest inspection. I want to know what issues are likely to come up with buyers. It’s incredibly frustrating to homeowners when they think their home is perfect and the buyers inspection report comes up with a major structural defect or termites. 

A major structural defect or active pest infestation can derail your sale and fast. It’s the unexpected, big things,the things we hadn’t noticed because we overlook the familiar. 

Living in the Dandenong Ranges we are used to colder temperatures, rain and mist. We know to be careful in the garden or on pavers, we know not to step on a log in Winter because it will be slippery. Damp, rot and termites love the Hills. 

Real estate agents bang on about your home being super clean and smelling nice but all that becomes irrelevant if there is a major defect. Before you spend thousands of dollars on prettying your place up, spend a few hundred and get a building and pest inspection. 

Before you spend money on anything with your home, think about the outcome you are seeking. Are you okay to sell your home as is and accept a lesser amount? If yes, then invest minimal or no cost. If you are prepared to spend time and money to maximise your sale price then be mindful what you do. Some things will improve your home and some things wont. It can be a tough choice.

MY ROLE AS YOUR SELLERS ADVOCATE

Part of my role as your selling or vendors advocate is to work through these concerns. What is your likely outcome if we do this or that? Will it improve your sale price or will it make it easier for the agent to sell? A house is generally easier to sell in the first few weeks of being on the market so getting it right from the start may add dollars to your sale (competition is more likely in the first few weeks). 


A building and pest inspection gives you the opportunity to fix things or accept things. As with decluttering and cleaning a building and pest inspection should be on every sellers checklist before they hit the market. 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME IN THE DANDENONG RANGES?

Please call me on 0447 591 754 or you can book a call here

BOOK AN EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS CALL

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