Top Tips 1

How to prepare your house for sale

The most frequently asked question we get during any market appraisal is what do we need to do to prepare the house for market? Here are my top tips that never fail to make your home more valuable and to sell it in the quickest time possible.

I feel the Declutter word is often overused but its true; get rid of everything that you don’t need usually clutter often accumulated over time, put it in storage or simply give it away.  Be careful not to strip the character from your home, what you are aiming for is a clean canvas so that the buyers can imagine themselves in your home and enjoying a similar attractive lifestyle that you have presented to them.

Am not suggesting a glut of magnolia but a fresh lick of paint is inexpensive and a super quick way to brighten and freshen your home, paint the front door a fresh new shade, then follow through from the hallway into your rooms with a light neutral colour, fresh paint brightens everything up making your home look lighter, cleaner and most importantly bigger.

Clean Clean Clean, there is nothing more off putting than doing viewings with potential buyers in a dirty house. Make sure everything is spic and span and if you have any repairs to do fix them, broken tiles, cracks in walls, lightbulbs that don’t work anymore, tired carpets in critical rooms I would replace.  Get the window cleaner in nothing makes a home sparkle like shiny clean windows.

Eradicate any bad smells! Stating the obvious but you would be surprised how many people forget this one.  If it’s pet odour then consider getting new beds for your pooch or throw everything into the washing machine. If its damp then deal with it properly it will only come back to haunt you on the survey if there is an issue.

Outside Gardens can make or break the deal, we have all heard about kerbside appeal but first impressions count, tidy the garden & please put away your wheelie bins.  We mentioned the front door but add some planted flowerpots each side to frame the entrance if you don’t have the space then a hanging basket will do.  A table and chairs no matter how small is a necessity to create a further entertaining space for the home.

The obvious conversion opportunity, if you can go up into the loft, or adapt the garage into a further reception room then go ahead and do it – if money is tight and you don’t want the expense disruption at least consider getting the planning permission anyway – that way your buyer has a head start with the process and has already a possibility to increase the value of his investment.