Overcoming The Eight Second Barrier

Research in Britain suggests that it takes just eight seconds for a prospective home buyer to decide against buying a property - or to keep an open mind and investigate further. In other words, first impressions count for a great deal.

It means that the approach to the home you want to sell and the front door take on an importance disproportionate to what lies inside. To give the award-winning designer kitchen and the spacious living quarters a chance to sell themselves, something needs to be done to make that first glance a favourable one.

To start with, the front garden: Water restrictions are a concern, but if you want to make the maximum dollars out of the sale it pays to take the maximum effort (within the law of course) to keep it looking bright and well cared for. If that means carting water from the washing machine to thirsty plants, then do so. Incidentally rainwater tanks, as well as solving your irrigation concerns, are increasingly a selling point in themselves.

Fertilise the lawn so it presents its best green hue, put fresh mulch around the bushes and add some potted plants close to the front door – the arrangements of flowers in pots not only promotes a feeling of wellbeing, it suggests a well cared for home.

We have talked about the need for an impressive front door in previous columns. It need not be grand; indeed an overly impressive door to an obviously modest dwelling can seem pretentious and false. A lot has been said about the best colour. For some reason, possibly dating back to pagan times, a green door is considered unlucky by some, whereas blue is usually positive.

Understated, simple, clean-lined elegance is desirable. Crinkly glass is definitely out, but other types of glass, possibly in the top two panels of a four-panel door, are an attraction. One agent said the classic Georgian style door, with solid panelling and a fanlight over the top is ideal for homes in terraces, but cautioned against a double door “unless the property is large and in the million-dollar class”.

An HIA home designer can advise on the type of door that’s ideal for you and there are plenty of specialist door-makers to choose from.

With that eight-second barrier overcome, you have only to prepare the rest of your home to clinch a sale.

Need a tradesperson? Find an HIA professional convenient to you at tradebuild.com.au