What do buyers want?

When preparing a property for sale, it’s crucial to make it as appealing as possible to buyers. It’s not always easy to be objective about a home, especially if you’ve lived in it for a long time and certain memories or experiences are strongly linked to it.

It’s important to take a step back and view the property through the eyes of an outsider. Those who are new to the home may not appreciate its eccentricities, there may be certain features of the home that you adore and value that aren’t immediately apparent to newcomers. It’s up to you the seller and your agent to clearly articulate a property’s major selling points to prospective buyers.

Clean and declutter
It’s a somewhat obvious point, but it never hurts to stress it again. A property must – must – be immaculately presented. Dirt and dust are huge turn offs to buyers, and create the impression that the home hasn’t been well maintained. Mess and clutter are also distracting; they make it difficult for a potential buyer to imagine themselves inhabiting the space. Providing a clean, neutral backdrop helps their imaginations run wild. Your agent is the best person to advise you on property presentation and in some cases can even recommend a property stylist to help cultivate a particular atmosphere.

Lifestyle attractions
For many people in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, buying a property is not solely about the house. Location is all important; residents want easy access to all the amenities that make inner-city living so desirable, like cafes, shops, bars, parks, public transport and top schools. Likewise, investors know that proximity to these things makes their property more attractive to tenants and easier to rent for a top price. It’s vital to clearly communicate these nearby attractions to buyers. A quick glance at Google Maps can often tell them the most obvious ones, but is there a shortcut to the shops or a fantastic, underrated cafe tucked away around the corner? Make them aware of any unseen, ‘insider’ benefits.

Transparency
Buyers get quickly frustrated when the information they need to help them make a decision isn’t readily available. Be ready to answer any questions by having information like the results of pest or building inspections on hand. If the local council has given approval for renovations or alterations, let buyers know the details. Something that frustrates many buyers is having no price range included on the property listing; there are often good reasons for not including this, but make sure your agent is readily available to anyone who’s keen to discuss the details of the sale.

Value-adding features
Certain features will always prove alluring to buyers. A spare room that can be utilised as either a study or an extra bedroom never goes astray; in general, flexible floor plans are often desirable. Features like hardwood floors, walk-in-wardrobes and kitchen islands hold high appeal. Clever storage options are also popular, particularly in smaller inner city dwellings where space is highly valued. If your property has features like these, ensure they play a role in your marketing campaign.