Make sure that the outside of your house is looking as good as it can be as this is the first thing buyers will see when they come to view. A well presented entrance can set the tone for the rest of the house.
If any work needs doing, attend to it before you put your house on the market - you could have an email from a buyer who saw your advert on the Availablehouse.com website within the first few hours so be ready.
We recommend that you go and stand outside your property and have a good look and see your property from a buyer’s point of view. Also walk up and down your road and take in all the other properties; see how they look, what properties stand out more than others and why. Instant improvements can help a sale; a nice fresh coat of paint on your door, or new upvc facias can really make an impact.
If you have a front garden and path leading to your front door, invest in a few flowers, place them in a pot or hanging baskets to brighten up the area (This is a good idea when you take your pictures for your advertisement(s)) also attend to the path, clear all the weeds and any stray litter or leaves, also sweep up outside your property. Let your perspective buyers see that your house has been looked after.
Flaking paint, loose handles or a scratched footplate give a bad first impression. A few minutes spent tidying up the paintwork and securing the handles will give potential buyers a sense of security. Also make sure that your windows are clean and the frames are in a reasonable state of repair. These are things that people look at first and so their importance is magnified.
By making these small improvements you can create maximum impact. If the outside of your house fails to impress buyers will not be keen to view.
Once the front door has closed you need to show people around your lovely clean bright property. Ensure your property is clean and tidy. This may sound very obvious but the less clutter you have lying around, the bigger the property will feel to prospective purchasers. This is so important because a lot of people cannot really take in the size of the rooms that you have to offer when they are all filled up with personal belongings.
The first room to be viewed is generally the front room, this is where most people sit down with their families and relax, so you need to have the mood set for this, nice lighting is essential, no matter how nice your rooms look, if you have not got the right lighting it cannot achieve its maximum potential. We suggest softer lighting for the front room; some nice tall floor standing lampshades can give a fantastic effect.
The carpet needs to be 100% clean, either call in a professional carpet cleaning company, or you can hire the equipment from your local hire shop. You will be amazed at the dirt they suck up. Remember that you need a day or so for the carpet to dry thoroughly.
Make sure you have any curtains fully open, and lights on if necessary. Nothing is more off-putting than a dark and dingy house.
Clear away clutter, free up passageways and, if possible, rearrange furniture to make living areas seem more spacious. Even clearing away ornaments, fridge magnets, clearing surfaces can help.
If you need to redecorate, use light, nondescript colours such as magnolia. It makes the room seem larger, and is easier for buyers to redecorate to their own taste.
For blank walls that seem lifeless, a few prints may just do the trick. Remove any family photos that you may have hanging up and replace them with various prints.
When you are showing people around your house, always introduce them to the room and let them go into the room first, this way they get full impact of the size and decoration rather than you standing in the way. All the rooms must be in tip top condition.
Add some more colour to your kitchen by introducing some fresh flowers in a nice vase, little things really do make a difference. Offer your buyers a drink and put a fresh pot of coffee on or even better, have it on just before they come round so as soon as they come in the front door they can smell the homely aroma. |
