You’ve made the decision to move house, you’ve decided the area you want to move to and you may have even found a house you’ve set your heart on. Now all you have to do is sell your home!
First impressions
You know what they say about first impressions… could you give your front door and garden gate a smart new lick of paint? Could you add a planter of flowers, get rid of the weeds and put the bins out of sight? If you share a communal entrance, how about cleaning up that pile of junk mail and tidying around?
The sweet smell of success
Do you remember the last time you came back from a trip, walked through the door and noticed a particular smell about your home? That’s the probably the way your house smells all the time and you only noticed it after some time away. If it’s stale smoke, cooking or pet odours, now would be a good time to find the source of that stink and get fresh air into your home. Clean carpets and upholstery, wash the bins and clear the drains. An air freshener might help but make sure it’s not just trying to cover the smell and isn’t overpowering. A spray of furniture polish gives a good impression and how about that homely smell of freshly brewed coffee when your viewers come to visit?
Persuasive presentation
It goes without saying that your home is going to look more pleasant with a good tidy-up. Why not take it a step further for real appeal. Don’t just do your standard tidy; make sure the washing is out of sight, no drying socks on the radiators. Clear your surfaces and declutter. Only leave the things you need regularly on your kitchen surfaces and no crumpled tea-towels hanging on the cooker.
Empathise with your buyers
Bear in mind that you may have outgrown your house but anyone who wants to buy it might imagine a different kind of home. For example, you may have had children since buying your home, but potential buyers might be more likely to be childless first time buyers. If you have children’s toys scattered around the house, could you invest in a storage box that you can quickly pile them all into when a viewer is due round? You probably like your home with its “lived in” look but remember your prospective buyers want to imagine themselves in a smart, clean and tidy home. If your sofa is looking a bit worn, buy a cheap throw to cover it up; How about the grouting and sealant in your bathroom? You’ll be amazed how much it freshens the look of the room with a quick and cheap replacement. There are lots of quick ways to spruce your place up with a few relatively low cost fixes.
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