Six steps to help you prepare a house for sale

Get potential buyers knocking with this guide to preparing your property for sale.

3 minute read

Selling a house can be one of the most exciting parts of home ownership, yet also one of the most stressful. With new houses popping up on the market every day, you need to make sure yours stands out from the crowd. But before you go investing in kitchen makeovers, loft conversions, or garage sleepouts, think about whether it’ll all pay off come sale time. With that in mind, here’s our simple six-step guide to help you prepare a house for sale.

1. Remind yourself why it’s important to get your home sale-ready

It can feel a little counterintuitive to spend money on a property you won’t be living in for much longer. So it’s important to remember that a beautifully presented home will be more memorable and attractive to potential buyers – and that a great first impression could help bring in the offers you’re hoping for.

2. Look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer

You might have lived in your home for a few years now and have likely grown used to all its little quirks, so try taking a step back and looking at your house through fresh eyes. Start from the outside and work your way around as though you’re a guest at your own open home.

Look for small issues, like peeling paint or an untidy garden. At the same time, keep an eye out for larger problem areas that could have a major impact on a buyer’s offer, such as roofing issues or a lack of insulation.

If you’re unsure, have a look at BNZ’s open home checklist for potential buyers. It’ll give you a good idea of the kinds of things people will be keeping tabs on.

3. Make a list of any free or low-cost improvements

When thinking about how to sell your home for more, start small. Before considering expensive home renovations, list all of the fixes that can be addressed with a trip to the hardware store and a bit of elbow grease.

Look for free improvements, such as:

• giving your home a deep clean
• getting rid of any unnecessary clutter
• cleaning your windows and exterior
• mowing your lawns
• trimming back your hedges.

Find low-cost improvements, including:

• fixing leaky taps
• filling any holes in the walls
• replacing broken door hinges or window latches
• touching up paint.

 4. Explore investing in bigger fixes

Larger improvements – like repainting the exterior, fixing roofing, installing insulation, or kitchen and bathroom renovations – can be costly. But they can also have a major impact on your home’s value. If step 2 brought any of these bigger issues to light, have a detailed look into the cost of renovation. Put some time into getting accurate quotes from several different suppliers.

Once you’ve got a realistic set of costs in hand, consider whether the expense will be reflected in your home’s new sale price. If not, they might be better left alone.

5. Consider professional home staging

If home decorating isn’t your thing, you could think about getting an expert involved. Home staging services will kit out your home with furniture and decor designed to show it off at its very best. It can help make a house feel lighter, brighter, and bigger. Professional home staging can work wonders for your real estate listing photography, and for your open homes.

 6. Make yourself an open home checklist

The job’s not over when your home has made its market debut. Before each open home, you’ll need to make sure your property is looking its best. Make the process a little easier by creating a checklist of things to do before every open home. Include a room-by-room breakdown, so nothing gets missed. That way your home will always be in great shape, and ready to meet its brand new owner.

When selling a house, there are plenty of ways you can boost its chances of getting a good price. Some might not cost anything but time and effort, while some might call for a little more investment. Just remember to have a good look at any potential renovation costs, and make sure the returns will be worth the work.

From the team at BNZ, best of luck selling your home.

Related articles

Related products

Related tools

Guide to owning a home

Learn more

This material is for general information purposes only and does not constitute, and is not intended as, personalised financial advice or as a replacement for legal advice. BNZ strongly recommends you seek advice specific to your personal financial or legal situation from a qualified adviser. Neither BNZ nor any person involved in the material accepts any liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance on, all or any part of the content.

All home loans are subject to lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), term and fees apply. Read our full home loans terms and conditions.