When buying a property, it is often tempting to save money along the way. One option is to do the conveyancing work yourself to save on legal fees. Unfortunately, this has backfired on many purchasers and sellers, so when considering this route it pays to be informed.
The information provided to you here is the different ways a real estate attorney works for you during a property transaction. If you are looking for an explanation of the contract process and examples of ways the contract may go wrong, then look no further. A real estate attorney protects your interests when things go wrong, so if you are considering a do-it-your property transaction, be very aware of the negatives of that decision before you make it.
Would you want to sell your home? Adequate preparation can help you sell your house fast and at a reasonable price. The excerpt below discusses how to prepare your home for sale.
Home Inspection
Ask your conveyancer to organise a house inspection. The inspection will give a detailed picture of the condition of the house. For instance, you can identify a leaking roof, wrapped pillar, the presence of pests and a faulty drainage system. Conduct these repairs before listing your property on the market. Remember, most buyers will demand for a pre-purchase inspection. If the inspection report does not meet their expectations, they could ask for a price cut; which may be more than the cost of repairs. Keep the pre-purchase inspection report and use it to woo customers into buying the property.
Home Improvement Projects
Most conveyancers are real estate experts. As such, the professional should advise what renovations you should make on the property. This could include;
- Improving the flow of light inside the structure. For instance, you could install larger windows or skylights.
- Improve the energy efficiency of the home by installing insulation, LED bulbs, air conditioning and double glazed windows.
- Create more space by adopting an open living concept. For instance, you could pull down walls dividing the kitchen area, dining and living room.
- Improve the interior by repainting the house using warm colours. Also, you could fix wall hangings and interior plants.
- The landscape must be appealing. Therefore, water the lawn to ensure plants are green and healthy.
Licences
Acquire the relevant home renovation licences. Most buyers will ask for these permits and a certifier's certificate of occupation to ascertain that the renovations did not compromise the structural integrity of your home. Your conveyancer should help you apply for these licences. Also be sure to have a copy of the owners and resident association bylaws.
Home Visits
Staging your home for house visits can be a difficult task. Below are some useful tips;
- Depersonalise the house by removing items of sentimental attachment such as family photos, urns, wallpapers, books and magazines.
- Clean and declutter the home. Tiles and walls should not have any stains.
- Remove odours by burning scented candles, removing pet baskets, and leaving the windows open to allow the house to aerate.
- Improve the curb appeal by repainting your entrance, placing potted plants at the doorstep and cleaning the driveway.
Preparing your house for sale should be easy with the above tips. Conduct a home inspection, consider home improvement projects, have the required licences, and observe the recommended home staging tips.
For more information on conveyancing, speak to a local service.