Ten tips to make the right first impression with house hunters!
Make your open home a success with these tips!
1. DE-PERSONALISE
Buyers want to picture themselves living in a property, so remove anything that’s too personal, like family photos.
2. DE-CLUTTER
Less is more. Remove ornaments that make the place feel cluttered, keep the kitchen benches clear and get rid of the pile of coats or shoes you usually keep by the front door.
3. LIGHTEN UP
Make the place feel open and inviting by turning the lights on and opening curtains and blinds. On a sunny day open doors leading to outdoor entertaining areas.
4. THINK ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS
Small touches can make all the difference. Remove your half-empty shampoo bottles from the shower, tuck away your toothbrushes, remove washing from the line and pop the toilet seat down.
5. AMP UP THE STREET APPEAL
Make the right kind of first impression by ensuring the front of your property is tidy and well presented. A fresh lick of paint on the front fence and water blasting the front deck are easy ways of making the place look its best. Consider hiring some eye-catching potted plants to cost-effectively add a drop of style.
6. CLEAN UP
It might seem obvious, but give the place a thorough spring clean. That includes organising the insides of your cupboards and wardrobes as house hunters will take a peek inside.
7. THINK ABOUT YOUR PETS
Sure, your family loves Oscar the poodle, but potential buyers might not. Get the carpet shampooed to remove any odours and keep your pets off the property during open homes.
8. MAKE EVERY ROOM COUNT
Buyers won’t be able to picture themselves hosting a dinner party if your dining room is piled high with storage boxes or filing cabinets. Make sure every room is selling itself. Put beds in all the bedrooms and clear out the “stuff” that has collected in your garage.
9. FIX EVERYTHING ON YOUR "I'LL GET AROUND TO IT" LIST
Is the latch on the front gate broken? Does the lock on the bathroom door not work? Have old screws left holes in the wall? Patch up and repair the small issues around your home, so buyers see the property’s potential and not the list of DIY they’ll have to sign up to.
10. HOME STAGING
Consider hiring a professional staging company to really bring your house to life. Interior design know-how goes a long way in making a home look its best. A statement couch and on-trend accessories can help your property feel more modern, increasing the emotional appeal of the property in the buyer’s mind.
Latest scams to look out for 👀
Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:
NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe
NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.
Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.
Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.
Show us your winter craft or DIY projects
When we are stuck inside, it can be a time to get creative. And we think Neighbourly members are quite a creative bunch. So, let's fill the Neighbourly newsfeed with crafty creations from across the country.
Share a photo below of your craft projects, recent DIY, or your hobby. You may just inspire someone else!
This riddle is a classic, neighbours, can you figure it out?
You throw away the outside and cook the inside.
Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside.
What did you eat?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
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