Selling your house can be a really stressful experience, but there are a few steps you can take to ensure you have made your home as appealing to potential buyers as possible.
Clear the clutter
Sometimes your clothes just don’t make it into the laundry basket… we get it. But it’s time to kiss goodbye to your floordrobe, the 15 empty shampoo bottles in the shower and your collection of Me To You bears on top of your wardrobe. Excessive clutter will make a room feel smaller – something you really want to avoid. The golden rule – when it doubt, clear that surface.
Make the most of your assets
Original fireplace? High ceilings? Cornicing? Show off the best features of your home by ensuring they are easily visible… Currently using the bay window as a place to store toys? Find them a new home and allow your viewers to see the full potential of the space.
Nice and neutral
While you may be a big fan of bold, bright and beautiful, your prospective buyers might not be… For them, removing that statement wallpaper you love may just be another task they are adding to their to-do list. Neutral tones will allow people looking around your home to put their own mental stamp on it, without being distracted by your bold colour palette.
Clean that kitchen (and bathroom, and everywhere else)
Nothing looks worse that dirty dishes in the sink, hair in the bath and muddy footprints on the carpet for someone looking round a house. Whether you do it yourself or get someone else to do it for you, a deep clean will leave your home looking sparkling and subsequently much more appealing.
Make room for someone else’s vision
We all have trinkets, photographs and accessories that make our house our home. But you’re trying to make it someone else’s home and having surfaces and fridge doors covered in personal memorabilia can hinder people envisioning themselves in that space. You’re going to be moving anyway, so just box them up for now.
Scent-sational ideas
Making your home smell nice may not be the first thing you think of when trying to sell your house but a few scented candles or a plug-in air freshener can make the world of difference, especially if you have pets (or cooked fish for dinner). Just remember – you don’t want to be known as 'the house that smelled like wet dog' once they’ve left.
Find a pet sitter
If you’ve got a particularly possessive pooch, consider finding a pet sitter for the 30 minutes or so you have viewings – it can be really off-putting for someone viewing a property if there is a barking dog to contend with.
Have you got any tips or tricks for getting your home ready for sale? Let us know!
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