Pricing for Sale: Five things an agent sees in the first five minutes

It's one thing being relaxed about letting your loved ones into your home regardless of its state. That kitchen cupboard door skew on its hinges? The best friends here for a braai don't even notice it.

But the person you met 10 seconds ago here to assess the market value your home will. Richard Gray, CEO of Harcourts South Africa, says that agents are trained to look for the big-ticket value-adding items but of course they notice the every-day things too as you give them the tour of your property.

"Agents are area experts, they know exactly what stakeholders can expect in their area. They also know how to manage their seller's expectations and work at getting this right from the first meeting," explains Gray, "Your agent will be looking at all aspects of your home to ensure that the discussions you'll be having in terms of listing price are realistic. This is critical for the good long-term relationship they want with you."

You want your agent to think of your home with a fond smile instead of a worried frown. 

Here's Gray's insider tips on five simple things you can do at no or very little cost to have an agent-favourite home.

Check the built-in bones of the home
Remove art, posters and Prestik from the bedroom cupboards. Make sure that knobs are firmly screwed on and give them a clean and shine. 

"Check the kitchen cupboards and drawers to ensure that they are all in good shape too. And if you have a pantry, now's a good time to straighten it out," advises Gray, as this will all make your kitchen look its best.

"If you have worn countertops and the funds available, replacing countertops is a quick update that gives you bang for your buck," he adds.

Manage the wiring and lighting
Make sure all the bulbs are in working order. "Turn on the lights in darker areas of the home for the agent's visit, regardless of time of day," shares Gray. "This just helps your house put its proverbial best foot forward."

And then find a solution for the TV, wifi or inverter wires you've been meaning to find for years now. Leaving them exposed and coiled up the wall is unsightly and frankly ugly. A clever solution, there are many out there, will just leave your rooms looking put together.

Give the fixtures and fittings a once-over
"Things like blinds will be staying in the home," says Gray, "You want to make sure they are looking good as you show your home to your agent." Clean them, obviously, and then replace if needed.

Light fittings and chandeliers are another relatively affordable feature of your home you can update if you've got extra cash available. Less is more at this stage though.

Security
Your agent will notice your system and components and will ask questions around what you've got installed. Make sure that all sensors and cameras are in good working order and replace the back-up battery system if needed.

Everyday lifestyle items
Your agent even notices your post box. They will certainly notice things like garden sheds and pool items.

"Give wooden garage doors a shine and check your pool net. Replacing a torn and ineffective net for example, is a no-brainer in terms of cheap quick value adds," says Gray

"Renovation before selling a loved and lived-in property should always be considered carefully, but these are quick and affordable fixes that your home and agent will thank you for," concludes Gray.