Property Selling Tips

October 12 - Selling a home in today's market is no easy feat, but there are signs that the property industry in South Africa is looking up.

As sellers can expect more buyers to view their properties, there are a number of tips that they can take into account to ensure that their homes are not passed over by potential buyers before they even walk through the front door.

First impressions are the most important, and homeowners will want to do everything possible to make sure that their homes look welcoming from the outside or, in industry lingo, have 'curb appeal'.

Curb appeal includes painting the front door and window casings, keeping trash out of the way and maintaining a neat and orderly garden. Plants and flowers can make a huge difference to the buyer's first impression of the home.

Once property agents bring buyers through the door, homeowners will want to ensure that the house is viewed as a 'clean slate' on which these buyers can view themselves in the home.

By decluttering surfaces, removing non essential furniture and opening up all blinds and windows to let in the light, the buyers will be able to envision themselves and their own belongings in the space.

Which brings us to one of the most overlooked problems - sloppy housekeeping. While removing clutter and a fresh coat of paint may help, many buyers examine owners' housekeeping skills as a reflection of they way they maintain the rest of the home.  A dirty oven may give away the fact that the owner doesn't bother to clear drains each year, for example.

Estate agents may be the home owner's best chance of selling a property. These professionals know exactly what potential buyers are looking out for, what puts them off and what cash should be spent on to make the property the most appealing for the least possible outlay.

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10/12/2009 8:28:57 AM