1. First impressions count!
Most buyers will have made a decision about your home within a few seconds of standing outside your front door.
Essential things to do include tidying the front garden, mowing the kerb lawn, painting the front door or window sills if looking a bit tired, planting easily maintained flowers and plants, and trimming back any hedges.
Make sure buyers can clearly see your house number too.
2. De-clutter and de-personalise!
This is a big one! Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves living in your home and that your home has good storage. So it is a great idea to take down walls of photos, fridge magnets, any of your beloved knick-knacks or weird and wonderful heirlooms and store them out of sight.
Ideally, anything you don’t use on a daily basis should be put away. Kitchen work surfaces, around the bath and on top of drawers all need to be clutter-free.
Viewers should be able to view your property without any distractions or be given any reasons to be judgemental.
3. Freshen things up
A fresh coat of neutral paint in the hallway, new tiling around the sink, fixing that broken drawer or door, a new kitchen worktop or re-grouting around the bath is essential to keep your property looking modern, clean and appealing to buyers.
4. The big clean!
Use this opportunity to clear out the under-stairs cupboards, attic, and dust above your wardrobes and shelves.
Cleanliness and tidiness should never be underestimated so clean each room from top to bottom. Make sure your bathrooms are clean and eliminate any animal and cooking odours to make your home smells fresh and appealing.
5. Define your rooms.
If you have three bedrooms, then present your property showing you have three bedrooms.
Don’t use your third bedroom as a computer room or use your dining room as a makeshift gym.
Buyers tend only to see usable space and will assume the bedroom is too small for a bed or the dining room is really too small to have family meals in.
This will put buyers off and depreciate the value of your home.
6. Keep it neutral and light
Neutral colours will not put buyers off, but often bright or dark colours will.
Keeping your home neutral will help buyers see how they can put their own stamp on the property. It will also help lighten any darker rooms. A mirror hanging in the hallway can give the illusion of space.
7. Make the most of your outdoor space
Gardens and yards can be great selling features but an overgrown mess isn’t.
Weeding, pruning and planting is vital to make outdoor areas usable and attractive to buyers. Screen and hide wheelie bins.
8. The small things count
Before we show any buyers around, be sure you have dealt with all the little jobs around the home.
Replace blown light bulbs, tighten the screws and hinges of cupboard doors, and fix the skirting board or beading along the laminated flooring.
9. The Neighbours!!
How does your neighbour’s property and garden look? This is often asked about and can put people off even if you home is looking immaculate.
Do they have an overgrown garden or have rubbish on display?
Have a chat with them and maybe offer to cut their hedges or ask if they want to share in your next Junk2 collection!
It isn’t just your property that the buyers will be looking at, location is key.
Making the neighbourhood more appealing is an asset to any buyer.
10. Disassociate yourself from your home
Make the mental decision to ‘let go of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
Not every buyer will love your home the way you do. So don’t take negative comments to heart!
Need an extra pair of hands? I have some amazing go-to experts who can assist with any interior or exterior services you may need from gardeners to decluttering specialists, builders or interior designers.
Please drop me a line if you would like any recommendations.
