How to prepare for the Spring property season.

Whether you're planning to buy or sell, now is the time to start preparing for the busy Spring property season.

If you are planning to BUY this Spring its time to formulate a plan to secure your dream property:

Get your finance sorted pronto

There's no point starting your property search until you know how much you can comfortably borrow and afford. If you haven't already done so, secure your loan pre-approval so you are prepared to act quickly when you find the right property.

Do your research

Whether you're a first home buyer or you've been around the block, it's important to do your homework.

• Narrow down the suburbs you're interested in and research the market value of your desired property type.
• Do your research and identify projects that may influence the capital growth potential.
• Consider the zoning and whether upcoming developments could affect supply and demand.
• Check out recent comparable sales on websites like realestate.com.au
• Get to know local real estate agents now, so that they keep you in the loop about new listings during Spring.

Attend several auctions before you actually bid

Bidding at auction can be extremely daunting, particularly with the knowledge that there's no cooling-off period. You'll want to feel confident about the process before going in guns blazing.

Over the coming weeks, make time to attend several auctions to get a feel for how they unfold. Even if you've bought at auction before, it's a good idea to suss out the market in advance.

If you are planning to SELL this Spring it could be time to give your property a little facelift:

Declutter

That's right, it's time to channel your inner Marie Kondo (she's a tidying expert if you haven't heard of her). You may be thinking, 'It's only August, I'll have time for that later,' but it's important not to underestimate how long the decluttering process can take! Decluttering can make a world of difference to prospective buyers. It allows them to see the space more clearly and imagine themselves living in your home. In simple terms, space sells. With that in mind, ditch what you don't need and consider putting the majority of your belongings into storage.

Clean meticulously

Time to give your home a thorough clean. You'll want your property looking it's absolute best for when the inspections begin. If there are any repairs or maintenance jobs you've been putting off over the winter, now is the time to address them.

Consider renovating

Want to drive up the sales price? Why not renovate this month and add value to your property? Most experts recommend the top priorities when renovating for profit should be the kitchen and bathroom(s). If you need finance for these kinds of big-ticket renovations, we can help. However, even making small cosmetic enhancements, like applying a fresh coat of paint or putting up new blinds, could result in a heftier price tag.

So, what's on your to-do list this month?

Remember, whether you're buying or selling this Spring, now is the time to start planning and preparing.

Call us on 1300 780 440 or email customerservice@financepath.com.au for all your finance needs today!