41/310 Warrigal Rd, Cheltenham, had its gardens improved, paint updated and was staged. The about $15,000 outlay helped it to a $76,000 premium.

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Melbourne home sellers are facing their toughest spring since before the pandemic, but market experts have revealed there are still ways to beat the odds — and boost your sale price.

PropTrack data shows the city’s clearance rate at the end of winter was 60.7 per cent, the most balanced finish to August since 2022 when interest rate hikes were hitting once a month.

The 37-day typical timeline to a sale has also increased from 36 days a year ago and just 28 in 2021.

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The latest realestate.com.au Residential Audience Pulse Survey found just 16 per cent of Victorians felt now was a good time to sell, compared to a nationwide average of 44 per cent.

But, with 41 per cent of people here seeing this spring as a good time to buy, well above the 33 per cent figure Australia wide, sellers who work to get their attention could be set to boost their chances.

Separate figures from the state’s biggest property agency, Ray White, show there are fewer people making offers for homes with the number of active bidders at each auction dropping to 2.3 in August, its lowest level heading into winter since before the pandemic.

The next lowest number was 2.6 bidders for each home, recorded in 2022 after four consecutive months of interest rate hikes.

Ray White’s chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the data “isn’t good for sellers” with a lot of homes still to hit the market this spring, and finding a way to stand out would be necessary for many.

3 Ilias Court, Bundoora, got an update to its front gardens with fresh plants and mulch that helped it sell.

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“Some homes will just naturally stand out, or if you have renovated that does tend to lead to better pricing, particularly if the home is well located,” Ms Conisbee said.

“But you do need to be realistic that there are a lot of properties for sale and prices have dropped.”

PropTrack Economist Anne Flaherty said Melbourne’s property market was showing resilience at the moment, but warned that even if the about 60 per cent auction clearance rate holds at that level until the end of spring it will likely be because some sellers have listened to the market and accepted buyers’ views on price at auction.

“Sellers are competing for buyers at this point and anything that gives your property an edge compared to another property will help you along,” Ms Flaherty said.

However, the economist noted many of the issues could improve with a cut to interest rates.

The Bundoora address sold by Ray White Bundoora was also repainted inside and sold for $657,000, well above the $550,000-$600,000 asking price.

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Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Jacob Caine said for anyone hoping to sell to a first-home buyer or a family, making the home look like it needed as little work done as possible was vital this spring.

Discussing how much to spend with a local real estate agent would give sellers the best odds of finding the sweet spot between overspending and putting in $10,000 and getting a $20,000 return on the investment, with three or more buyers interested.

“People don’t do this very often, and buyers assume everything will cost on the upper end,” he said.

“And it’s not just the money, it’s the time and stress and potentially moving out while you do these things and sell the home.”

Sellers with more modest budgets would be wise to focus on the key rooms of their home, as buyers often determined whether they would inspect a home based on the first image or two they saw of it on listing websites.

41/310 Warrigal Rd, Cheltenham, was listed for $580,000-$610,000 and sold for $686,000 after being refreshed in a variety of ways.

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In most cases he advised the focus should be on improving the interior, but for those selling a renovator’s delight it’s more about making the home’s potential clear without wasting too much effort.

“You aren’t trying to put lipstick on a pig, but you want to tell everyone it has bacon,” Mr Caine said.

For those considering what their home could sell for, he advised not putting too much stock in anything sold earlier than July this year as the market was changing quickly.

“It’s highly competitive for sellers and the buyers hold most of the cards this spring,” Mr Caine said.

Online tradies site hipages’ data shows that as spring kicks off in Victoria the most in-demand requests have been for fencing, plumbers, electricians, garden maintenance, painters, plasterers and tilers – reflecting homeowners looking to add cosmetic value to their homes.

At the same time last year, homeowners were seeking electricians, concreters, fencing specialists, gas fitters, carpenters as well as demolition and excavation work — suggesting a greater focus on home functionality.

HOW TO BOOST YOUR SPRING SALE WITH A $10K BUDGET

WEST:

– Refresh front and rear yards, add new plants and fresh mulch;

– Declutter inside and out;

– Replace carpets, focusing on neutral colours;

– Repaint with light, airy shades to make rooms feel larger;

– Stage the home, even with borrowed or rented key furniture such as couches and tables;

– Update lighting with brighter globes;

Updating your back fence could help buyers look past it as a project they will need to tackle.

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– Replace or paint worn looking fences;

– Paint the shed to match with fencing;

– Address anything that looks like it needs work;

– High-pressure water clean garden surfaces and driveways;

– Add modern blinds with sheers, which can be done for a whole house for about $3000

*Suggestions: Ray White Werribee, Michelle Chick

NORTH AND NORTHWEST

– Bring in a stylist to advise what will look best in your home;

– Replace or steam-clean carpets, repolish floorboards;

– Refresh front and rear yards, add new plants and fresh, dark mulch;

– Refresh interior paint with bright, light colours;

– Replace tapware, door handles with on trend options;

– Repaint tiled splashbacks if their colour is no longer in vogue;

A refresh of your kitchen splashback can work wonders.

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– Declutter inside and out;

– Ensure lights are working, opt for warm downlights if possible;

– Replace drapes with white blinds to boost natural light;

– Install scent diffusers and add house plants;

– With any leftover funds, stage the lounge, kitchen and meals area;

*Suggestions: Ray White Gladstone Park, Phillip Mercieca, and Ray White Bundoora, Andrew Mizzi

EAST AND SOUTH EAST:

– Declutter inside and out;

– Deal with any minor issues you have been ‘living with’;

– Check for peeling, chipped or faded paint and refresh where necessary;

– Refresh driveways with a high pressure water cleaner;

– Add sheer, white curtains from Spotlight or Ikea to windows with blinds;

– Clean or regrout bathroom tiles;

– Wash any walls that aren’t repainted;

– Tidy gardens, add fresh mulch and some flowering plants;

A thriving, tidy garden can help a home stand out from the pack.

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– Paint tired old rear fences;

– Update lighting with brighter globes;

– Pay for a professional window cleaning;

– Bring in a stylist, the usual minimum spend is $2000, but about $5000 will transform a three-bedroom house;

– Add a stylish, tall front fence backed by a Lilly pilly hedge to create a sense of privacy;

– Consider minimalistic landscaping, including pavers or stepping stones;

– Add soft outdoor lighting to highlight key garden features;

*Suggestions: Ray White Cheltenham’s, Dylan Jansma, Angela Limanis, Trevor Bowen, and Ray White Forest Hill, Hugh Francis

Source: Ray White agencies

*$10,000 budget may only cover a selection of suggestions

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