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The working-from-home revolution has propelled online activity into a new era as people become increasingly comfortable not having to be ‘in person’ for work meetings to catching up with friends and everything in between. Digital tools to sell, buy and rent a home have also become the norm, contributing to better consumer experiences, especially when they are remote to where the property is located. When it comes to selling your property, knowing that more than 90% of searches start online, it is crucial to find ways to stand out from your competition. Virtual staging can help achieve this, and it offers numerous advantages compared to the costly alternative of hiring furniture for what is a vacant home. We will look at 5 benefits that virtual staging offers to sellers: 1.    Make your property stand out 2.    Help prospective buyers project themselves 3.    Save money with a more cost-effective alternative 4.    Benefit from a fast turn-around 5.    Boost your selling price 1. Virtual staging helps your property stand out As 90% of searches for a property start online, it is crucial to grab the attention of prospective buyers straight off the bat and seize any opportunity for your home to stand out from the crowd. This is when virtual staging comes into play. "It is the best way to bring a cold vacant home to life easily. It helps to show its full potential", explains Brad Filliponi, Co-Founder of Box Brownie, one of the world's leaders in virtual staging. Thanks to beautiful images that also give potential buyers room for imagination, your property will increase its chances to make an impression and secure its spot on the list of interested buyers. 2. Help prospective buyers project themselves in the property Many buyers struggle to project themselves in a home that is empty or not styled to their taste. But virtual staging can help prospective buyers with that so that they can create an emotional connection with the property, crucial for a successful sale. The process is quite straight-forward. "A client uses vacant (or not) interior photos to fill the property for sale or rent with lifelike digital furniture. The idea is to show how or what the space can be used for. Most buyers find it hard to visualise an empty room and ‘see themselves in it’, so these edits can really become a silent salesman for your property", says Mr Filliponi. Moreover, virtual staging works both on standard or 360 photos for virtual tours. "The only potential downside of virtual staging is that the styling is not there upon inspection. But at least the seed has been planted", notes Stephen Mutton, National Head Of Network Development at LJ Hooker. However, there is an easy way to overcome this potential hurdle. Sellers can use easels in the empty rooms to showcase the printed virtually staged images. This will help remind prospective buyers of the potential of the property. And once the buyer’s attention has been caught and the decision made to attend an open home, you can then trust your real estate agent to do his job. 3. Virtual staging is more cost-effective than traditional styling Traditional styling can be expensive. Depending on the location of the property (for example, this service is more expensive in Sydney than Hobart), the number of rooms and the time necessary to sell the home, it can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $10,000 or more. Therefore, you may be limited to only a couple of weeks in your budget. You may also be limited in the style of furniture you can select. "The cost of traditional staging means that it can fall out of people's budgets and it simply doesn't get done, even though it’s deemed essential to get an edge on the competition. Therefore, with most property ownership journeys starting online, the less expensive digital styling ability is a more cost-effective solution", says Mr Mutton. The cost of virtual staging usually ranges between $30 and $120 per image depending on the supplier. That means that you can consider staging the home in two or more different styles to suit different audiences. You can also showcase more than one option for how to use a room. For example, a small bedroom could be presented both as a nursery and as a spacious office. 4. Benefit from fast turn-around (48 hours or less) Unlike traditional staging, virtual staging only needs a few hours spent editing images on the computer to get the ball rolling. It doesn't require the organisation of an initial consultation and all the logistics that come with sourcing and setting up the furniture in the property. In most cases, you should be able to have all your images ready in 48 hours or less, depending on the supplier. This is much faster than the minimum of one week to set up physical staging, and much easier to organise. Moreover, there is no risk of damaging the walls or floors when moving the furniture in and out of the property. 5. Boost the selling price of your home Appropriate styling can evoke an emotional connection to a property and a desire to want to live there. This means that correct styling increases the saleability of a property and the return is usually well worth the investment. Indeed, experts agree that home staging can increase the selling price of a property between 5 and 10% on average. "Virtual staging shows people what the potential of the empty space is. This, in turn, will create a desire to want to live there or own it and ultimately increase the value and or competition on the property, explains Stephen Mutton. It works much like a car that you wouldn't sell without washing it and showing its full potential." DISCLAIMER - The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.

Spring is an excellent time to sell your property for a variety of reasons. As the seller, you will want to prepare your home the right way. This will give you the best chance of attracting great buyers, achieving a higher sales price, and, ultimately, locking in a successful sale. In this guide, we explain why spring is a great time to put your property on the market, and we explore specific strategies for getting your house ready. Why spring is an ideal time to sell Property sellers in Australia often hold off until spring to list their property. One of the reasons is the sunnier weather and blossoming gardens. They make properties look more appealing and motivate buyers to get out and about after the cold, rainy months. Unsurprisingly, buyers tend to be more inclined to attend open houses when the weather is sunny and mild, rather than overcast and rainy. People are also generally more motivated to secure a property with the end of the year looming. It allows them to move in before or during the Christmas holiday period and settle into their new home before starting the school year. Hence the market tends to see an uplift in spring. In turn, sellers recognise more buyers lead to increased competition, higher prices, and possibly a quicker sale for their property. Strategies for readying your home to sell in spring Even though sales outcomes tend to be stronger in spring, more sellers and a larger number of properties mean more competition for your property. This means you’ll still need to have a focused plan to boost your chances of a great sale outcome. Ideally, this strategy will include property staging and presentation. Follow these tips to maximise your property’s appeal to buyers. 1. Spring clean Start with a complete spring clean to get your house ready for the sale. Clean glass doors and windows from the outside and inside. Remove cobwebs and give everything a good dusting and vacuum. Wash curtains and dust blinds, lighting, and other fixtures. Clean and polish door knobs, mirrors, switches, taps, and fittings. Have your carpets professionally steam cleaned. Wipe down cupboards and all exterior and interior surfaces like closet doors as well as shelves and drawers. Pay particular attention to kitchens and bathrooms, and have your tiles and grouting cleaned by experts if necessary. 2. Increase curb appeal First impressions count when it comes to buyers’ opinions, so increase curb appeal and make your exteriors stand out. Tidy up your front and back garden by clearing away any clutter from your front yard. Use a pressure washer to hose down driveways and garden pathways, and make sure you remove any oil stains. Rake away dead leaves, prune dead winter growth, and do a thorough weeding. Have your roof and gutters cleaned by professionals. Remove any large bushes and trim away tree branches to clear the exterior view for prospective buyers. Trim your lawn edges for a clean and orderly look. Fix dead, bald, or yellowing lawn patches by seeding and fertilising these spots. Adding small improvements like mulch can make a big difference while reducing the need for ongoing weeding. Get rid of any shabby-looking outdoor items like rusting deck chairs and creaking swing sets. Consider repainting fences, exterior walls, and the letterbox. For a pop of colour, add flowers and green shrubbery to your front garden. Don’t forget to fertilise your lawn and garden beds for vibrant springtime growth. Make an impact by introducing statement pots and plants to your entrance. Remember to keep up with watering to keep your lawn, flowers and trees looking their best. 3. Remove personal items Take the opportunity to declutter your house by throwing away or donating anything you’re not using. Remove as many personal effects from your property as possible. Decluttering makes your interiors and storage spaces look more spacious, and depersonalising your home provides potential buyers with a blank canvas to imagine the house as theirs. Remove family photos, souvenirs, and accolades. Consider putting oversized, worn-looking, or clashing furniture pieces into storage. Anything you leave, like clothing hanging in your closet and plates in cupboards, should be in good condition and tidily arranged. 4. Accessorise the interior Staging your property allows you to target specific demographics and possibly achieve a better price. An experienced real estate agent is your best adviser when it comes to staging. He/she can pinpoint the special features and guide you on how to highlight these with staging. So what exactly does staging involve? You could rent furniture, artwork, and additional accessories to accentuate your property’s top features. These can be used to repurpose rooms - such as turning an extra bedroom into a nursery or a home office - depending on your target demographic. You can add basic touches yourself, such as updating old towels, rugs, and linen with new ones. Draw back the blinds to let in natural light and add fresh bouquets of flowers. During inspections, the agent might recommend added elements like relaxing music and pleasing aromas with baking cookies and freshly brewed coffee. 5. Do any necessary repairs and maintenance Take an objective look at your interiors and note any flaws, defects, or damage. Repair leaky taps, loose doorknobs, and faulty light switches. Give damaged walls a fresh coat of paint, and consider having carpet stains removed by professionals. If you have timber flooring, think about having them restrained. 6. Work with an expert A real estate agent works closely with you at every step of your sale, ensuring you’re staging and preparing your property correctly. He/she can check you’re working off an accurate value for your home and assist with your contracts and paperwork. Spring is a busy time for both buyers and sellers, and your agent can help make your property stand out and successfully market it to your target demographic. In addition, you could have the full confidence that it’s truly the right time to sell if you have the help of a real estate expert who knows your local market, like LJ Hooker’s highly experienced agents. Achieving a successful sale in spring Spring is a preferred time to sell and buy, and as a seller, you could enhance your chances of getting a great price and achieving a faster sale by preparing your property in the right way. Decluttering, cleaning, and depersonalisation are essential strategies to apply, along with working with an experienced real estate agent. If you’re preparing to sell your property, make sure you get in touch with an experienced real estate agent and obtain an accurate property appraisal. You can get a better understanding of where your property stands in the market today by getting a free expert property appraisal with an LJ Hooker agent. DISCLAIMER - The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.

Investing in real estate can provide a major boost to investment portfolios, but it is not as simple as selecting a property and moving in tenants. However, your investment property could provide solid returns by making informed decisions. The key to success? Being aware of the true cost of real estate investments. Head to our website to find out more. #byljh LINK TO https://www.ljhooker.com.au/invest/cost-of-investing-in-property?utm_source=workplace&utm_medium=library&utm_campaign=investors

Who We Are The Reserve Bank governor has warned Australians they need to be prepared for substantial interest rate rises over the rest of this year, conceding he is not sure how high they might go. Key points: Philip Lowe says it is "reasonable" to think interest rates will get to 2.5 per cent at some point He expects inflation could reach 7 per cent by the end of this year and start dropping early next year He defended the RBA's statement last year which said interest rates would not rise until 2024 In an interview with 7.30, his first public remarks since hiking rates by half a per cent, Philip Lowe said he expected inflation could hit 7 per cent by Christmas and predicted it would not fall until the first quarter of next year. At a time when Australians are already grappling with rising fuel, power and grocery prices, he declared the RBA would do "what's necessary" to get inflation back to between 2 to 3 per cent. "It's unclear at the moment how far interest rates will need to go up to get that," Dr Lowe said. "I'm confident that inflation will come down over time but we'll have to have higher interest rates to get that outcome." Dr Lowe added that it was "reasonable" to think interest rates would reach about 2.5 per cent at some point, stressing they had been at emergency levels in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and needed to gradually return to normal. Leigh Sales interviews Philip Lowe.(ABC News) "I say that because the midpoint of our inflation target is 2.5 per cent, so an interest rate of 2.5 per cent in inflation-adjusted terms is really an interest rate of zero, which in historical terms is a very low number," Dr Lowe said. "How fast we get to 2.5 per cent, indeed whether we get to 2.5 per cent, is going to be determined by events." Under such a scenario, a family with a million-dollar mortgage would likely have to pay more than $1,000 a month more than they were a few weeks ago. The RBA governor conceded some families were already struggling to make ends meet and would find the increase in repayments tough. But he said many were well placed, pointing out that unemployment was very low, many households had built up substantial savings buffers, while others were relying on higher interest rate returns to make ends meet. "At the individual level, some people have taken loans that they may not have wanted to take out in retrospect, but the overall picture, which is really very much the focus of the Reserve Bank, is a pretty resilient economy," Dr Lowe said. RBA defends saying rates would not rise until 2024 The Reserve Bank is "committed to learning" from the impact of the pandemic on the economy, Philip Lowe says.(ABC News: Daniel Irvine) Last October, the RBA was saying rates would not rise before 2024, and Dr Lowe conceded that will have influenced how much some Australians have borrowed. He said he thought there would be a "long tail" from the pandemic and expected the economy would bounce back more slowly. But Dr Lowe declared his comments about the economy were conditional and were not a guarantee. "Sometimes my comments get interpreted as me having made a promise, or a very strong statement, that interest rates would stay where they were to 2024. In our own communication, in our own way of thinking, it was very much a conditional statement," he said. "The economy didn't evolve as we expected, it's been much more resilient and inflation's been higher, and we thought we needed to respond to that." Although Dr Lowe warned inflation could hit 7 per cent by Christmas, he said there were already signs it would fall in the first quarter next year and again in the second quarter. He said the supply bottlenecks in the global economy were starting to ease, with a pick-up in production of things like new cars and computer chips. Philip Lowe says the RBA is expecting the economy to grow "pretty strongly" over the next six to 12 months.(ABC News: John Gunn) "We're not worried that declines in housing prices will affect the banking system," Dr Lowe said. "We're expecting the Australian economy to continue to grow pretty strongly over the next six to 12 months. There's still a bounce-back from all the COVID restrictions." He added that it was a "really good question" to consider whether the economy had been overstimulated by the RBA and the federal government during the pandemic, and whether that was the reason for the coming rate rises. "But perhaps I can take you back to the dark days of the pandemic, back in February and March 2020," he reflected. "There were credible predictions that tens of thousands of Australians would be dead within a few months, that our hospitals would be overfull, that the unemployment rate would reach 15 per cent, that there'd be deep economic and social scarring in society and there'd be a generation of lost opportunity. "We were facing incredibly scary, damaging times. We took out a lot of insurance. I think it was the right thing to do but I accept that others will have a different view. The Reserve Bank is committed to learning from that experience." 'The bigger fiscal issue' Philip Lowe says: "There are increasing demands on the public purse."(ABC News: Matt Roberts) With a new government in Canberra, Dr Lowe said the nation also needed to consider how the Commonwealth would continue to pay for all the things voters wanted. Anthony Albanese's government has inherited a budget with no surpluses in sight and net debt forecast to peak at around $860 billion in a few years' time. Economists believe that level is manageable but warn the nation's books contain a structural hole. In short, the country is on track to spend more than it takes in, at a time when there is increasing demand for spending on things like defence, aged care and disability services. To fill the shortfall the federal government can raise taxes or cut spending, which are both generally politically unpopular. Or it can embark on productivity measures, which are also often difficult to implement, to grow the economy quickly to make the overall scale of the debt smaller. Dr Lowe said it was a discussion the nation needed to have. "There are increasing demands on the public purse. It's harder to find out how we're going to pay for that," he said. "That's the bigger fiscal issue." Posted 14 Jun 2022

Selling your property during this latest lockdown is not “mission impossible”. There are many technologies and techniques to help you maximise the value of your home despite the pandemic. Buyer demand is still at record highs even though restrictions have been placed on inspections, limiting it to one person at a time. If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic’s impact on property, it’s that lockdowns create a pent-up buyer demand that has previously created increases in prices. Additionally, buyers are comfortable with using new technologies to make their purchases. Video, virtual and 3D tours of homes have been a huge hit, and many buyers have stated their preference for the transparency of online auctions rather than those carried out on-site or in an auction room. Lockdown can be a great time to sell. Genuine buyers never stop looking but as some owners get anxious and pull out of the market they’ll have fewer properties from which to choose. This means the in-balance between supply and demand will work in your favour even more. If you’re thinking of selling, here are a few activities we believe are critical to a successful lockdown property sale: 1. Invest in online – Make sure your property features strongly on portals such as Domain and realestate.com.au. You’ll attract not only genuine buyers but also those who are thinking about their next dream home. 2. Snap happy – Nothing ignites the imagination of a potential buyer like quality photography and during a lockdown, they have plenty of time to think about their big move. You want to be at the forefront of their minds and it’s the great photos that make your home stand out. 3. Target market – We’ll identify the most likely buyers of your home – whether they are families, singles or young couples. This will instruct us on how and where to pitch your property. 4. Be marketing-smart – Leveraging social media is a great way to reach your target market especially when the photography is stunning. 5. Unconverted leads – As your agent, we can show you how we’ll leverage contacts made in the last six months about properties similar to your own. While some of these potential buyers might have bought elsewhere, the lack of properties on the market means many are probably still looking. 6. Video tours – Video and virtual tours can be shown on Instagram, Facebook or restricted to being available on request. Some clients like to do these tours themselves, but it’s usually best to have them handled professionally. 7. 3D tours – These professionally-produced tours allow potential buyers to walk through your home using their computers. Buyers get a sense of size and space using 360-degree rendering of any room, and the garden and entertainment area. 8. Stage your home – For a wow factor, consider staging your home. Presentation counts for so much in real estate, and this is an ideal approach – and can cheer you up during lockdown! A consultant will choose and hire furnishings to put your property in its best light. Don’t decide on this at the last minute. You’d want the photography and virtual tour to capitalise on this strategy.

The fun you can have renovating your kitchen is almost beyond imagination these days. Design options and colours from which to choose are head-spinning and full of potential to help create a loving, warm home. And if you love a touch of tech, then the latest appliances and gadgets might blow your mind. As experienced local real estate agents, we know the kitchen is one of the most important rooms for many prospective buyers. It’s where everyone gathers, where we nourish ourselves and where memories are created. New homeowners will often pour any remaining funds set aside for their purchase into a kitchen update. Likewise, if you’re thinking of selling right now, then a high-spec kitchen will set your property apart and help maximise its value. Kitchen technology makes an impact on prospective buyers, especially those who love to cook and entertain. To give you a taste of what’s available, here’s a round-up of innovations in cookers and ovens by companies such as Miele, Asko, Smeg and many more. You don’t have to bake any of these manufacturers into your thinking, but just let the idea of owning the world’s best cooking technology simmer away in the back of your mind! Open sesame – New high tech oven doors automatically open at the end of a cooking cycle. If you forget about the food or become distracted, the oven will allow heat to escape but keep the food warm as it rests. Say cheese – A camera in the oven monitors the food, and you can watch it cook and even alter the settings with an app from anywhere in the world, although probably you’re likely to be somewhere else in the house! Cool doors – Literally, the doors are cool. High-spec ovens have fans that force cool air between the double-panes of thermal glass in the door. This forms a veil of cool air that makes the door safe to touch. If you have children running around the kitchen, it’s a helpful safety feature. Smart cooking – Let your oven automatically select the right temperature, cooking time and oven function. Some models will even suggest which shelf height for optimal results. Climate change – Several manufacturers offer ovens with a sealed environment to ensure roasts retain nutrients, flavour and natural juices. They promise cakes will rise evenly and pastry will be evenly crisp and not burnt with this feature. Stretch-out – That awkward manoeuver of pulling a hot tray from the oven to check the food is history. Shelves now have telescopic arms, so trays slide out easily. Need for speed – Top of the range ovens are now promising to heat twice as quickly as those designed less than five years ago. Get steamed up – Settings offer a mix of steam and heat designed to avoid drying out food, such as fish and meat, while crisping skins and fat. Heat is on – When it comes to cleaning an oven, forget the scrubbing brush and caustic sprays. Pyrolytic cycle heat that gets up to 500C is used to carbonise food residue and grease. All you’re left with is a small amount of ash that you can wipe away. Spotless ovens – Watch out for an oven interior surface called ever-clean enamel. It retains its flawless finish and is durable and easy to maintain, say designer. Go with the flow – Improving technology around fans and airflow means the heat is distributed evenly throughout the oven.

When you’re selling your home, you need to get as many potential buyers as possible to attend your home open-for-inspection days. How you present the exterior of your property has a huge impact on buyers, as it makes your home stand out from other properties for sale in the area. Here’s how to give your home street appeal and ensure maximum attendance at your home inspections. Why street appeal matters You might get sick of hearing it, but first impressions last. Most potential buyers who are interested in your property will drive or walk past it before deciding whether or not to attend a home inspection. You want your home to grab their attention instantly, so you need to ensure the front and visible sides of your property are pristine and well-maintained if you want it to have maximum street appeal. Home improvements to make before selling Many of the most important repairs to make before selling a house are the street appeal solutions. ‘Kerb appeal’ is essential due to the extremely competitive property market; to stand out from the competition, you need to know how to improve the front of your house. There are several details to which you need to pay particular attention if you want to improve the street appeal of your property: 1. Letterbox The letterbox should be fully functional, attractive-looking and in good condition. If necessary, invest in a new, fancy letterbox to catch the eye of passers-by. Finally, make sure it is free of newspapers and mail, so the exterior of your home looks tidy and well cared-for. 2. Windows Windows add immensely to the street appeal of homes, as they offer a view into your property. The windows need to be spotlessly clean, and you can make your home appear more stylish from the outside by having matching blinds at the front of the house. 3. Paintwork Peeling or faded paintwork makes your home look uncared-for, and it’s amazing how much difference a coat of paint can make to your property’s street appeal. Choose a modern colour, and if you want to make a style statement, paint the front door in a contrasting colour so it stands out. Of course, if your paintwork is fine but a bit tired-looking, a good pressure clean will brighten everything without the cost of new paint. 4. Roof Buyers want to see that the roof is in good condition, so make sure any broken or loose tiles are replaced. Then have the roof pressure-cleaned to make it look like new. 5. Garage Make sure the outside of the garage looks clean and tidy, and give the garage door a fresh coat of paint. You should also consider parking your car in the garage instead of on the driveway, as this will make the front of your house look tidier and more attractive. 6. Garden The garden needs to look well-maintained, so you need to get rid of any weeds, dead plants and stray leaves. Keep the lawn mowed and lay new mulch. For maximum street appeal, consider hiring a professional to transform your garden with considered landscaping. Marketing your street appeal Once the exterior of your home is perfect, it’s time to have your photographs taken and put online. Your home will have that ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ street appeal that buyers want to see. This is the best way to get people through the door at your home inspections. Once the outside of your property is presented well enough to convince buyers to check out the inside, your agent can meet them and sell your property to them. More street appeal ideas  We are always happy to help you prepare your home for sale by advising you on how to give your property maximum street appeal for the local market. Please contact us if you would like more advice and support.

The season from September to November is generally the most popular time to sell a home. This has a number of advantages for sellers, but it is essential to start preparing your house for sale early if you want it to stand out from the many other properties on the market. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your home ready. Why getting your home ready for the spring market matters Spring is an ideal time to sell your home, for a couple of reasons: Your home will be shown in its best light, as the weather is better and the flowers are starting to bloom. Potential buyers often want to move into a new property before Christmas. However, generally speaking, this does result in more properties on the market than at any other time of year, so it is important to know how to prepare your home for spring if you want it to set the property apart from the competition. Preparing your home for sale checklist By taking care of every little detail and getting your spring cleaning right, you can improve your chances of selling your property quickly and achieving the best possible sale price. Here are our eight essential tips for preparing a house for sale: 1. Sale plan Planning ahead is extremely important, and starting in autumn can vastly increase your chances of a spring sale. There are a number of factors you need to work out before you start preparing your home for sale: Make sure all necessary paperwork is completed. Know where you’ll move to if you are selling your home. Work out when you need the property to be sold by. If the property is an investment, and currently rented, it can help to have an idea of what you will use the money for if you are not purchasing another property. Having everything in place early will leave you free to concentrate on the finer details later. 2. Property appraisal You need to have your property appraised by an experienced real estate agent. This price guide will help you work out approximately how much money you will be able to spend on your next property purchase. 3. Decluttering Home buying is an aspirational process – buyers want to imagine themselves living in your property. For this reason, it is extremely important to declutter every room. All personal items such as photographs should be removed (so the prospective buyer can imagine themselves in your home, rather than you). You need to make sure the cupboards, drawers and bathroom vanities are cleared out and reorganised, as buyers always look! You should also remove all clutter from the shed and garage, so the buyer can imagine the potential of the space. 4. Facelift Your property needs to look well-maintained, cared for and modern. There are a number of things you can do to help tidy it up: Painting: Just one coat can really freshen up your home. Neutral colours are best as they offer a blank canvas on which viewers can project their vision. Floors: Install new floor coverings if yours are worn. Have the carpets deep-cleaned to remove any stains and odours. Preparing the floors doesn’t have to be expensive; they just need to look and smell good. Replace: Cupboard doors, handles, bathroom fittings, to make everything look sparkling and new. The most important thing to do here is to deep clean every room. If you can’t face the thought of doing it yourself, there are cleaning services that will do this for you.   5. Home maintenance Make sure all the minor fixes are taken care of, such as installing new washers in dripping taps and unsticking any stubborn cupboards or drawers. If any major work needs doing, such as installing a new kitchen, make sure you don’t go overboard on the spending, as you want to see a good return on your investment. 6. Garden If you have a garden, it needs to look as well-maintained as the rest of your property. Weeding and removing dead plants are essential. It is also worth getting a team in to trim shrubs, mulch garden beds and keep the lawn mowed. 7. Street/ kerb appeal Think about what potential buyers will see when they drive by your home. Does the letterbox need replacing or the fence need fixing? You can also consider hiring a pressure-washing team to clean the walls, windows and roof. 8. Home styling Home styling is an important part of creating the right impression. A good real estate agent will be able to recommend a home stager who can style your home in a way that buyers will fall in love with. Find out more about preparing your property for sale By following these tips and starting early, you can save yourself a lot of stress when it comes to the spring season. You also need to speak to a good agent – they know what buyers in your area are looking for, and will be able to advise you on all the steps you need to take for the best possible chance of a sale.