THE SELLER'S FACELIFT - MAX EFFORT, MIN FINANCE

It's December. You're on leave. You're planning on selling your home in the new year. Now is the time to prepare it...you have some breathing space to examine your home objectively, can rope in the entire family, and work out what you can do - without spending excessively - to make it more saleable. No major alterations, just tweaks - think elbow grease, creativity and small outlays for big reward.

Buyers are fussy - why shouldn't they be? You will be too when you source your new home. But realistically, if buyers perceive weaknesses in your home, you're inviting them to relate that to your asking price. Just as you will do.  

Buying a home is first and foremost an emotive purchase. They fall in love with your home. They picture themselves and their families living in those spaces. With little money and a load of determination, you can make sure they do.

THE START...

Clean, tidy and uncluttered: everything needs to fit this bill. For a buyer to visualise his life in your home, he has to be able to move in and through it. You need to look at every aspect of your home with a very critical eye. Whether it's the dog kennel which needs a coat of paint, the grouting of the pool surround, or your cosy, but chaotic home office - everything matters. Your buyer may be a passionate cook, a workaholic, a gardener...you won't know that until they arrive, so pay attention to every aspect of your home.  

• Clean and tidy: let this extend to your garage, storeroom, light fittings, and front gate. Everywhere. Wash down walls, use/hire a high-pressure hose to revive your driveway/patio and buy inexpensive storage units - there are so many enormously functional and affordable plastic/cardboard boxes and cubbyhole units which attractively 'hide' your tools/files/toys/pool equipment and so on. If you're short on ideas, Pinterest is your friend.

• Clutter: makes the room smaller, blocks that all-important flow within the house, and ultimately, clouds the mind - certainly that of your prospective buyer. Even if you have to remove dozens of ornaments off tabletops, ten appliances clogging the kitchen counter, unnecessary rugs crowding the floor...it's worth doing. The room will double in size visually.
• Your home office: many prospective buyers are looking for this facility. Make yours enticing and professional, with space to move and breathe. Clutter is a No No. Make it look as if work is a pleasure in this space.  
• Your patio: this is a major drawcard for buyers, particularly if it leads from lounge to patio to pool to garden. Most buyers are drawn like a magnet to that. Make sure you unblock any obstacles to that flow outwards. Spotless pool, cushions, furniture, umbrella, manicured lawn...goes without saying.

THE MIDDLE...

• Light. South Africans in particular want and need light- and air-filled rooms. Lace or heavy curtains or shutters which block the light need to be examined - what can you do to tie them right back/remove them/realign them? 

• Paint. It's relatively inexpensive, and a fresh coat or colour can move mountains. Be critical of your own home and know that a fresh coat can transform the light and mood of a room. If in doubt (and it's the least expensive), choose a version of white; if braver, choose one of the more contemporary colours to update the room.     
• Plants. Stand in the road and analyse your road appeal. Is there anything you could do (clean and neat gates/verge is a given)? Plants are inexpensive, and friends are often very happy to share. It needn't be colour per se but loads of different greens. There are indefinite species within the waterwise-indigenous range, and they can look so good. A couple of aloes can be attention-grabbing sculptural, while different tall grasses can soften a harsh wall. A trellis or panel from your garden shop to shield the washing line or storeroom?

THE END...

• Props - largely greenery/fruit/candles. It's using little (often inexpensive) touches to lift the room. A large glass vase or bowl filled with fresh lemons; a tall glass vase with a couple of elephant ear leaves in a dead corner; solar fairy lights on the patio; scented candles - particularly if there are any smokers in the home; glorious flowers or indoor plants in moderation.  
• Staging: When you have a prospective buyer coming around, open the doors and windows, open that pool umbrella, put the cushions on the patio furniture, and set the scene - let them see themselves enjoying that lifestyle.
• Pets: you love them of course, but your prospective buyer may not. Make sure there aren't signs of them everywhere, including pet hair, seen-better-days chew toys, food bowls and grubby blankets. And always put them away when clients are about to arrive.

You've spent very little, but your home will be looking the best it can be - neat, tidy, uncluttered, and spotless. You may have other issues with your home which need attention - that's another topic - but December/January is the perfect time to take stock of what you can do without breaking the bank. You may surprise yourself.