How To Tell If Your Property Needs Improving Before Hitting The Market

Gone are the days where you could put your property on the market 'as is' and it sell just as quickly. If you're going to sell your home, there are things you must do prior. But how will you know that your beautiful, perfect, family home needs 'improving'? You love it just the way it is! Use this checklist to find out.

1. The whole time you've lived there, maintenance has felt easy and simple!

Unless you're in an apartment building where there's absolutely nothing for you to do outside of your four walls, chances are there's property maintenance to uphold. But if you feel like it's been 'easy' the whole time, chances are, you haven't kept on top of it enough.

2. If your home still looks like your home

It's most likely that you'll still need to live in your house while you're selling it. If it still looks and feels exactly the same as before you put it on the market, you haven't done what's necessary (unless your home naturally looks like a display home). Cleaning, decluttering and depersonalising, all these things will prepare your home for potential buyers.

3. If you simply haven't done anything to it

There's ALWAYS something that can be done to present your property better than it's current state. You might think you don't have the time or the money to do anything to your house. Or that it's already perfect. Don't be complacent. There are affordable trades and services that will tell you what you should do and take care of it all for you.

4. Gut feeling

It comes down to your own confidence in your property. If you list your home as it is and it's not looking as best as it possibly can, don't expect an above average sale price. But if you dedicate hard work and effort into the property, you're going to feel confident knowing that there's nothing to bring you down on price or interfere with the process.

5. Ask your Agent

It's their job to be brutally honest with you sometimes and have the tough conversations. This includes telling you what you can do to maximise your return. They should give you recommendations on improvements based on their professional opinion and perspective.

Don't list your property on the market without getting it ready. It's only going to benefit you in the long run. Do yourself a favour! Attract more buyers, spend less days on the market and maximise your return!