Latest Property Inspection Program for Buyers In Australia
Property Inspections Property inspections are all about you, the seller, being able to justify your sales price. Your goal is to create an environment that allows a buyer to visualise how satisfied they would become if they were to buy from you. We covered presentation in the PPM document, that is by far the most important part of the inspection, but I would like to give you a few more recommendations to think about. I mentioned in PPM how it is not possible to cater for everyone’s tastes; you will certainly be in the minority if a buyer inspects and wants everything to stay exactly the same. However to give your buyer the best chance of being able to visualise themselves living in your property (which is your objective) you need to adopt the ‘less is more’ approach. By that, I mean take as many of your personal belongings out of the picture as possible. This way a buyer’s focus is on how the place will look when they live there, rather than focussing on your personal choices.
I am not telling you to pack and unpack your home every time you have an inspection, just think about keeping the personal extras in every room as simple as possible. It is a good idea to try and attend a few open house inspections; this will give you a fresh perspective on how a potential buyer may feel as they look around a non-familiar environment. At the time of your inspection you need keep it simple – “Hi I am Natalie, did you have any trouble finding the place”, ……….. (the usual small talk). “I will just show you around quickly and leave you to have a look around by yourself”. Most people are able to relax and enjoy the inspection more if they have been familiarised to the house quickly and then left to themselves. You don’t need to physically take them to every room, just give your buyers some basic directions on where things are; this will simply make them feel more welcome. Create some brochures and hand one to your buyers just before you start your brief tour. Include the price and all the specifications of your home. It gives the buyer something to hold and reference back to. If you have trouble putting a brochure together you can give me a call and I will have one of my graphics team sort something out for you. Another overlooked aspect that is very relaxing to a buyer’s state of mind is their sense of smell. If the house carries a pleasant smell it is much more likely to encourage a longer inspection.
Simply opening the widows to let some fresh air in, or my personal favourite is a nice bunch of flowers. Don’t overdo it with anything that is to over-powering, a mild fragrance will create a more relaxed inspection. If you have pets, organise for someone to take care of them or find a way to keep them out of sight for the duration of the inspection. Personally, I am a big animal lover and nothing would relax me more than seeing a small dog or cat sitting on the couch, but unfortunately some buyers may be put off by the idea of an animal inhabitant. The best advice I can give a property seller at the time of inspection is to make buyers feel as relaxed as possible and let your excellent presentation do all the work for you.