If you’re looking to sell your home it can often be overwhelming and confusing with where to begin. All too often we see sellers making expensive changes to their home that they think will add value before engaging with an agent. The issue with this is that the changes you’ve made to your home may not necessarily be where buyers see value - all before it’s too late! What could be more frustrating than spending big bucks to make big changes to your home, only to find out you could have spent less for more impact on buyers?

By far the biggest mistake home sellers can make is not getting good advice from the get-go. We see plenty of sellers that are just about to put their house on the market and spend a fortune on costly changes that they think they have to make. The reality is that there are simple house improvements that you can get done that will add significant value to your home, which typically won’t break the bank.

The minute you know you’re going to be putting your home on the market you’ll want to speak to a good agent - there is no substitute for good, early advice from a couple of local agents that really know what buyers are looking for in a new home.

You may be wondering what kind of repairs and changes the agent may recommend, and while every home is different, a few common recommendations include:

• Repainting your walls to a neutral palette. When trying to sell, a nice coat of neutral paint can give the entire house a face lift, and buyers really love to see a fresh blank canvas.
• Decluttering your home to remove any unnecessary items. Prospective buyers want to be able to visualise their own furniture and belongings inside the home and this can be hard when there are piles of personal junk crowding each room.
• Touch up any scuff marks on walls and skirting boards. There’s always a build-up of little marks and scuffs in every home. You'd be surprised a what a difference this easy fix can make and give the house a fresh new feel.
• Clean, clean clean! We all know the difference a thorough clean can make to a home. Be sure to give all windows and glass a clean and dust those hard-to-reach spots.
• Consider staging furniture. Staging can be on the more costly side, but if your agent recommends it - listen to them! Staging your home can maximise your home’s appeal to a wider audience.
• Get the carpets re-done if they have lots of damage. Flooring isn’t an easy one to change up, but sometimes it’s completely worn out, dirty and daggy and will benefit from an overhaul.
• Update lighting fixtures. Replacing lighting throughout a house can be a simple update for a small investment — but can make a big impact where appearance is concerned.

The key is to start early and get good advice. You will save a fortune and you may even just make some money!