Michael Hardy Estate Agent in Wokingham and Crowthorne
Helpful hints to selling your house
Selling you house can be a stressful time, but a small amount of work and some careful thought can sell your property sooner, reducing the stress on you and your family. Here are some helpful hints:
Disassociate yourself with your home
Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house... A product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the supermarket shelf".
Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
Don't look backwards... look toward the future.
De-clutter!
People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away.
Remove all books from bookcases.
Pack up those knickknacks.
Clean off everything on kitchen work-tops.
Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
Make minor repairs
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
Patch holes in walls.
Fix leaky taps.
Fix doors that won't close properly and kitchen drawers that stick.
Consider painting your walls neutral colours, especially if you have become accustomed to purple or pink walls (don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom").
Replace blown light bulbs.
If you've considered replacing a worn duvet cover, do so now!
Make the house sparkle!
Wash windows inside and out.
Hire a pressure washer and spray down patios, pathways and exterior.
Clean out cobwebs.
Re-seal baths, showers and sinks.
Clean out the refrigerator.
Vacuum daily.
Wax floors.
Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
Bleach dingy grout.
Replace worn rugs.
Hang up fresh towels.
Clean and air any musty smelling areas. Odours are a no-no.
Check curb appeal
If buyers won't get out of their car because they don't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get them inside.
Mow the lawn.
Paint faded window trim.
Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion Marigolds are inexpensive.
