It is that time when people start considering putting their house on the market – new year, new house. The process of selling your house may begin with appointing a reputable agent, but after that there is plenty you can do to help not only secure a speedy sale, but also to fetch the best possible price.
A key element is how you prepare your house for viewings. This is sometimes called “staging” but it is vital if you are looking for your property to be sold in good time.
Here are our top 10 tips:
- First impressions – ‘Kerb appeal’ is one of the most important aspects of selling your home. It is crucial how the property looks for ‘first impressions’. It means having neat front lawns, clean guttering, clean windows, and making sure there are no rogue rubbish/bin bags hanging around.
- Give your home a bit of a makeover. For instance, give the walls a fresh lick of paint (preferably neutral) to give the impression of a bigger, lighter room. It will also appeal to the potential buyer because they won’t have to decorate themselves.
- Tidy up and remove excess items that might give the impression of cluttering. You may want to remove any large bits of furniture (such as a clunky wardrobe) in order to make a room look bigger.
- Repairs – it’s important to repair that cracked window pane or tile. Make sure all your light bulbs are working and that kitchen cupboard isn’t hanging off.
- Clean and repair– repair that discoloured tile grout, remove limescale, dust those cobwebs on the ceiling and buy some quality air freshener.
- Tidy up the garden – weed the patio, trim that out of control hedge and cut the grass. Basically make the garden look manageable.
- Give your kitchen a makeover – the kitchen is the most valuable room in a house. Upgrading cabinets and work tops might appear expensive but can be worth it in the long run. Also, declutter work surfaces and remove bulky appliances.
- Make the house feel light and airy – wall mirrors make a room look much bigger and lighter, especially in smaller rooms or hallways. Clean windows inside and out, and ensure that you have lamps on in any dark corners.
- Get a reputable agent to show potential buyers round – it’s their job to know what things to say, what to highlight and what to downplay. They are also effective at answering those tricky questions about the noisy neighbours.
- Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Make sure you clear/unblock drains, wash bins, open windows, and get rid of cooking smells from the kitchen. Plants and flowers bring colour, life and light to a room and smell wonderful.
