Natacha Debas - Licensed Real Estate Salesperson REAA 2008

Going Green

Whether you’re staging your home or not, house plants are a wonderful way to transform the rooms of your home. Adding greenery not only injects colour and structure into a space, it also creates a sense of relaxation and boosts mood. Plants can even reduce noise levels and improve air quality, so with all that going for them, what’s holding you back?

If the time has come to sell, preparing your property for viewing can make all the difference.

For those of us who don’t have naturally green thumbs, choosing the right plants is the key. Succulents are generally hardy and drought tolerant which is perfect for busy people. They also come in a wide variety of interesting shapes. Containers with good drainage and using succulent or cactus potting mix are recommended to keep succulents at their best.

Looking for something delicate for the bathroom or a bedroom? String of Pearls, with its delicate tendrils of round beads, look wonderful hanging or draping over the edge of a table or pedestal. For something more rugged, the Bunny Ear Cactus looks great, but take care when handling. With its irritating barbs, this is not the ideal plant for those with small children or curious pets.

If succulents aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other resilient plants that can add interest to a room. Snake plants are extremely hardy and make a great statement piece with their tall, contrasting coloured leaves. Philodendrons and Pothos are leafy, easy care options that are true survivors and make great hanging plants. For larger spaces, consider a Rubber Plant or for a lower maintenance option, try a Dragon Tree.

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 Posted on June 16, 2021 by

 Home Tips, Selling

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Six tips to get your house sale-ready

If the time has come to sell, preparing your property for viewing can make all the difference.

To help you out, here are six expert tips that will help you get started and make sure your house is looking its best for potential buyers on open home day. These tips won’t just make your house more attractive to prospective buyers, they could potentially increase the sale price too.

Have street appeal. How do you enhance the street appeal of your home? Mow the lawns, make sure the hedging is neat and plant fresh flowers so that visitors fall in love with your home from the get-go. Talk to your local Resene ColorShop staff about quick ways to freshen up the outside using paint – even painting your mailbox could make a difference.

Dress to impress. Dress you house to suit the kind of buyer you think will be most interested in it. Your real estate agent will be able to help you with this. If it’s most likely to be a family, add details and homewares throughout the home to portray a family-friendly setting – from hanging four towels in the bathroom to placing four toothbrushes on the vanity.

But don’t overwhelm. In saying that, make sure the home isn’t just filled with your stuff. People like to visualise their own belongings in their potential new home, so keep it homely but uncluttered. Once again, your agent can give you tips on minimalist styling.

Spring clean! It’s common sense to present a clean home when putting it on the market. Don’t neglect the little details, such as clearing the ceiling corners of cobwebs and replacing old shampoo bottles or wellworn towels. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to help out, or to give a final appraisal of the house before you have an open home.

Give it some flair. Your house is almost ready, but what about some stand out design details? Things such as colourful linen on the beds can be a clever way to brighten up a room. It doesn’t need to be extravagant to be beautiful, and the benefit is that you can take the bedding with you when you sell.

And on the day… On open home day, brew a fresh pot of coffee or tea and even freshly baked goods won’t go astray. This will make potential buyers feel welcomed and comfortable.

Source: www.habitatbyresene.co.nz

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 Posted on June 16, 2021 by

 Selling

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Selling at auction

When selling your property, there are quite a few different modes of sale you can opt for. However selling your home through auction has many benefits, such as: 

  • You set the terms and conditions of sale 
  • Target marketing puts a spotlight on your property 
  • Marketing with no price attracts genuine, cash in hand buyers 
  • Auctions create a sense of urgency, bringing buyers to a point of decision 

Preparing for an auction 

Auctioning your property is about so much more than simply showing up on auction day. There’s a lot that goes into it beforehand to ensure you achieve the best result possible for your property. Marketing your property well is chief among the things you’ll need to do. 

Your sales consultant should walk you through your marketing plan in detail, from the images that’ll be selected and advertised, the copy that will be included, to where the property will be advertised (online, papers, brochures, in office, etc.) 

What is your role on auction day? 

If you’re in the country, the best recommendation is to attend your auction. It’s great to have you there if there are any last minute questions.  

Your auctioneer will also want to confer with you depending on how the auction is going. If bidding stops below your reserve price for example, your auctioneer will want to discuss next steps with you. 

The reserve price 

It’s important for you to understand and be clear on what your reserve price is, and how it’s used during the auction. 

There are three types of figures to consider before the day: 

  • Your best price – The figure you’d be very happy to accept. 
  • Your ok price – The figure you’d be ok with based on the feedback you’ve received, you don’t see a win but you don’t see a loss. 
  • Your accepted price - This last figure is basically the one you wouldn’t be thrilled with, but given market conditions, you’re prepared to sell at that price. 

Reposted from Harcourts.co.nz

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 Posted on November 13, 2020 by

 Selling

Creating a good first impression

Property presentation is crucial when it comes to selling, however it’s important not to over-stage your home.

To maximise the final sale price and to sell the property in the shortest timeframe sellers do need to make the effort to present their homes in the best possible way, but when preparing a property for inspection it’s important not to over-do it as that could backfire.

A clean and well-maintained home should be a minimum, but be wary of creating an empty, sterile environment stripped of personality for example.   

If a property has a “lived in” look and feel it will typically be more appealing to potential buyers. They will be able to more easily imagine themselves living in the home if they can get a sense of how the property is enjoyed now from the human touches of the current owners.  

At the opposite end of the scale, if you decide to add furniture, art or other items in order to create a certain look, be careful not to add so many touches that potential buyers end up focusing on the ‘stuff’ and don’t look at the house or grounds properly.

Whatever you do it’s important not to be obviously contrived in how you stage your home as potential buyers will see through it and could be distracted, or put off entirely, by it.

In summary, common sense and subtlety will usually prevail, with the aim being to make your property’s features and not its presentation buyers’ talking point.

If you have questions on presenting your home and the subtle extras that can make a powerful difference talk to your Harcourts Sales Consultant who can advise you of the common turn-ons and turn-offs.

Tip: Don’t forget some people are afraid of or allergic to animals, so bear that in mind if you have pets as you don’t want to stop potential buyers from coming through the gate or door during your open homes.

Reposted from Harcourts

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 Posted on July 30, 2020 by

 Selling

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A little paint, a long way.

What are the things you should invest in, that will reward you the day you will resell your home? Well, first of all, PAINT! Here is an article from Harcourts I want to share with you, it gives you a run down of how a little paint can keep your home looking fresh.

Painting your home may seem like a daunting job, but the rewards of a fresh coat of paint go a long way.

Keeping up on the condition of your interior and exterior walls guarantees not only pleasant surroundings, but also less to worry about in the event of a sudden move. Potential buyers will often remark on a house that is consistently well-maintained as one they’d often admired over the years and could very well be excited to see it on the market.

Don’t think you have to repaint your whole house every year, but consider refreshing one or two rooms each year on a rotational basis. Some people also treat their exteriors that way, keeping the same neutral colour, and painting one wall a year.

Take down any wall hangings and fill the holes with filler from your hardware store. Remove door stops and electrical outlet covers (carefully).

Wash walls thoroughly with an appropriate cleaner and leave to dry thoroughly. Make sure you get the mix right so you don’t leave any residual detergent on the wall which could ruin your new paint-job.

Cover any area that you don’t want painted or splattered. Use a drop cloth to cover floors and furniture you can’t move. Mask off walls and woodwork that aren’t to be painted with masking tape that will peel off easily without damaging surfaces.

Get good quality and right size brushes and rollers for the job and paint type. Remember to get a couple of smaller brushes for tight spots.

The final ‘look’ can be sharp or sloppy, no matter how much work you put in, so practice ‘cutting in’ tight corners and take a little extra time to get it right. Ask your local paint shop experts whether you should start with walls or ceilings first depending on your style of home.

Don’t be impatient. Read the paint instructions to leave enough time in between coats so they dry properly.

Three thin coats is a far better finish than one thick coat of paint!

Have an area ready and set-up to clean brushes and rollers as soon as you finish. Take the extra time required to rinse them clean. While this is the part of the job that few people like, a bit of extra effort will keep your brushes in top condition for another day.   

Reposted from Harcourts

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 Posted on July 28, 2020 by

 Home Tips, Selling

Natacha Debas – Licensed Real Estate Salesperson REAA 2008

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