Have you thought about how other people see your home? Everyone is different, but you will need to capture their imagination to help seal the deal. If they don’t like what they see, their purse will stay firmly shut.
To achieve a top price and avoid your property lingering on the market consider the following:
- Go neutral
- Focus on bathrooms & kitchens
- Finish off those little jobs
- De-personalise
- De-clutter
- Clean, clean, clean!
- Get some kerb appeal
- Tidy-up the Garden
- Make it smell good
- Creating light and space
- Add a touch of luxury
- Go neutral – Magnolia is still the best selling colour paint for a reason – plain shades make a room feel brighter and create a sense of space. It also gives people the blank canvas they might be craving to ‘make their mark’. Busy schemes put people off.
- Bathrooms & kitchens – The condition of the bathroom and kitchen can make or break a sale. Ensure that all grouting and sealant is clean and free of mould and surfaces are free of clutter. Can people see themselves, their family and their guests using this space?
- Finish off those little jobs – Attend to those little jobs that were never quite finished. We want buyers focused on the job in hand, buying your home!
- De-personalise – Remove photographs and knick-knacks to create an environment that potential buyers can see themselves in. Less is definitely more! Think ‘Show Home’.
- De-clutter – Get rid of all those bits and pieces lying around. Prospective buyers are trying to picture themselves living in your home and a blank canvas will help them do that! Having a clear-out might also make the space look bigger and save you a job when you move too. Why take it with you?
- Clean – Ensure that everything is spotlessly clean and tidy. If you don’t have time to do it yourself, find a local cleaner and you then can get on with everything else.
- Kerb appeal – Potential buyers will form an initial opinion of your property within the first twenty seconds of seeing it from the outside. What condition is your front door in? Is the paint fresh? Have you got any plants? Find time to seep up outside and clean the windows and doors before any viewings.
- The Garden – Many buyers like to see a neat garden that looks like it can be easily maintained. Use pots to create splashes of colour without having to plant whole flowerbeds. Also they might be looking for storage, including where to keep the bins and recycling. Help them move in mentally and show-off any outside space to its best advantage.
- Smelling good – You can take so much time thinking about the best use of space, colour and lighting that you may all together forget the sense of smell. The sense of smell is different than all of the other senses due to the fact that a smell sends signals directly to the hypothalamus, or emotional senses of the brain. Odours are very capable of affecting the way that we feel about a certain time, situation or even place that other senses cannot. Baking a cake or a pot of coffee can create lovely smells. If you have pets, keep them out of the way on viewing days and deal with any ‘doggy odours’.
- Creating light and space – Use mirrors to help create a feeling of light and space.
- A touch of luxury – Try using throws on beds, sofas and older worn furnishings.
It isn’t just about giving your home a facelift with a lick of paint to make is ready to sell. Buyers today are more sophisticated and are looking for a lifestyle as well as a home. Your property will need to reflect this.
As your agent we will work to promote the lifestyle benefits of your property as well as the features that are held within it. If there is anything in particular that you wish to draw out attention to, please do let us know.