Choosing to put your home on the market can be a huge decision. However, it’s important not to forget how important it is to prepare your home to ensure that it looks its best and achieves the price it deserves.  

Fine & Country Interior Design talk to Elaine Penhaul from Lemon and Lime Interiors, a specialist property presentation firm, who are instructed by homeowners across the country to help them get their properties ready to go on the market. Elaine’s six top tips are instrumental to getting the price your house deserves. 

Setting a budget

Getting your home ready for sale is a major undertaking. Our home is, for most of us, our major financial asset and its sale is the gateway to the next stage of life. We advise all our clients to consider preparing their homes for sale in the same way that they would prepare for any major event. But how to do this and what budget should you allocate for the marketing of your home? 

We usually find that if our clients allocate between 1-3% of the value of their home to prepare it for sale. This should be sufficient to ensure it sells for the highest possible price, rather than sit on the market for months. This budget includes all the preparation stages, professional photography and the services of a high-quality estate agent, all of which are much more likely to help you achieve the best sale.

So, where to start?  

1. Turn up your kerb appeal

First impressions are everything. Most buyers look at online images before they book a viewing, so make sure your home is looking its best for photographs. Tidy away the bins and cut the grass. You don’t want to lose a potential buyer before they even get to the front door. 

2. The little things 

Small things can make all the difference, such as a lick of paint to freshen up the front door, tidying up the garden, or putting a throw over a tired sofa; investing in a few finishing touches can make an all-important sale. 

3. Curate your clutter

Moving house is a great excuse to declutter and get rid of bits and bobs that have been hanging around your home. Although you may love your nostalgic trinkets, potential buyers want the house they are viewing to feel like it could be their home. Make it as easy for them to imagine as possible. Homes are often bought with the heart rather than the head, so declutter wisely.

4. Fresh and clean

There is nothing more off-putting than a house this isn’t sparkling clean. Remember that pets may give the appearance of uncleanliness, so keep them and their bedding outside during viewings. 

5. And clean again

Is the oven clean, inside and out? Are the skirting boards gleaming? Make sure the property is spotless; your viewers will notice everything. Don’t put them off by any corners appearing uncared-for, or they may start looking for reasons not to buy or to lower the price.

6. Professional photos

Once your home looks clean and tidy and all the small repairs have been completed, this is when your photographs can be taken. Most house hunters research online for their new home before booking a viewing and search through hundreds of images, so make sure your house stands out. 

With so many properties on the market, it is essential to make your home stand out, and great photography will certainly get people through your front door. 

Lemon and Lime Interiors are part of Fine & Country Interior Design. Click here to find out more about their specialist design services to make your home sell faster or to design your new property.