Selling your Home

Useful advice on improving the salability of your home

First Impressions

Most people will see your property for the first time as they drive past and will not waste their time viewing if it's not what they want from the outside. Keep your front garden and drive well maintained, clean the windows, even changing or re-painting your old front door can make all the difference.

If your property doesn't get people through the door it can be an uphill struggle. Once through the door though, the majority of people can recall getting that 'it just felt right feeling' - If your entrance is warm and welcoming they will get that feeling.

Presentation

Finish any outstanding DIY jobs. It's common for people who are moving not to bother finishing off all those DIY tasks. These can be really off putting to a potential buyer and can give your home a neglected, unloved feeling. It is seldom worth redecorating, as purchasers will have their own preferences. However, if redecorating is long overdue or your paint scheme is quirky, a quick "freshen up" in neutral colours will be worthwhile, often giving the property a sense of space and light.

Clean

This cannot be stressed enough. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom/s, which need to be inviting and hygienic, consider re-grouting tiles if they are particularly stained, laying fresh lino if the current flooring has seen better days and either remove or replace grubby shower curtains and half used bars of soap.

Watch out for over stuffed wardrobes and toy cupboards too, people do look in them to ascertain how much storage space you have to offer.

Create the right atmosphere

Open blinds and draw curtains right back to ensure all windows are letting in as much light as possible. Open all doors to avoid dark passages (they make houses appear smaller). On cold dull days, turn on the central heating and lights, and if there is an open fire, light it, it will help to create a really inviting atmosphere. On hot days, fresh air is equally important. Strategically placed plants and fresh flowers always make a home more cheerful and fresh. Kitchens that are free from clutter give the appearance of being a pleasure to work in. Avoid creating 'lingering' smells in your home if you know you have viewing's booked, the smell of strong foods is not inviting, the same goes for cigarette smoke and even alcohol can linger from the night before.

Pets

Although we are a nation of pet lovers, having an over over excited pet can be extremely off putting to a potential purchaser and even make the difference between a thorough inspection of your home or a rushed whiz around with a hasty departure. If possible, leave pets (dogs) with a neighbour then thoroughly clean up any hair, food bowls, rugs, baskets and toys, there is nothing worse than viewing a property with an over powering 'doggy' or 'tom cat' odour. If you do have a number of pets it is worth while having your carpets cleaned prior to marketing your property. The same applies to fish tanks or hamster cages make sure these are clean and look well cared for.

De-cluttering

Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your house, so store any unnecessary 'nick nacks', ornaments and photos. Self storage units are very useful when it comes to marketing your property. No one expects your property to look like a show home but they will expect you to have made an effort to show it to its full potential, especially if you are asking top price for it.

Put away things you don't use on a daily basis in the attic or in storage. Large pieces of furniture should also go into storage; this will make rooms feel more spacious. Focus on the hallway - clear away coats, shoes and general clutter; in the bathroom - hide all your products; and in the kitchen - clear surfaces of appliances, jars, tins, etc, and replace any ragged tea towels or smelly bins, but most importantly, do the washing up!

Showing your Property

If your agent is doing the viewing it is usual that the property owners are not present. However, if you are showing your property yourself, decide beforehand in what order you will show the rooms, and guide viewers around the property once, saving the best rooms first or last. Be enthusiastic about the features in your home, don't overload them with detail, such as the size of your boiler. Be business-like during the first viewing; if someone is interested, you can always get to know them a little more on the second viewing. Never point out problems or issues, but do feel free to highlight the odd positive point, like a south-facing garden, or very convenient parking. Finally, invite viewers to take another tour round the property on their own, don't hover behind them, just be somewhere nearby, on hand to answer any queries. It is not necessary to offer refreshments, sometimes a lengthy drawn out viewing can lead to differences of opinion and disagreements – best avoided when trying to attract and retain an interested viewer.

If you have off road parking, leave the space free for the viewers - this will add a positive element to the whole experience before they have even stepped into your home.

Gardens

Don't forget the gardens. Keep the lawn, hedges, shrubs etc neat and trimmed. If the garden is fairly small keep flower borders to the minimum and tie back any shrubs etc that over hang the lawn as this will open it out a little more. Outhouses, sheds, greenhouses need to be kept clutter free so there are no accidents from people tripping over paint pots, deck chairs etc If any of your garden structures are not safe for inspection, do make sure that people are made fully aware of this beforehand.