If your home is about to hit the market and you want to get lots of people through the door, we can give you some tips for making your property as fresh and appealing as possible.
The more interest you can drum up, the quicker the offers will come rolling in, which should help you achieve the highest possible price for your home.
Tips for preparing for a sale
You ideally want to present your home as a fairly blank canvas so your personal possessions are not too dominant and that viewers can imagine themselves living there.
The trick is to display a bright, clean, and neutral space with just a few homely touches that will help sell the lifestyle sought after by prospective buyers.
Start by planning to get any decorating, de-cluttering and moving of items done prior to the photographer’s visit so that the photos show your home in its most flattering light.
We use professional photographers who will help make each room look its best but the more you can do in advance, the better the results will be.
Decorating prior to selling your home
Have a look around each room. Is there an abundance of strong colours or bold wallpaper? If so, think about redecorating in more soothing tones that will appeal to a broader range of buyers.
If you have lots of highly marked walls, it’s worth giving them a quick lick of paint. Even adding one coat can make a dramatic difference and it’s a great way to use up leftover paint that has been stashed away from previous decorating jobs.
Touching up scuffed skirting boards is another easy way to make your home look fresher.
Spring cleaning
The light is getting brighter and the days are getting longer, so there’s no hiding a build-up of dust and grime.
A dirty home will be hugely off-putting, so make time for a really thorough clean that goes over and above your usual weekly effort. Wipe walls, skirting boards, shelving, slatted blinds, doors, bannisters, and every other conceivable surface.
Deep clean your carpets and polish hardwood floors until they gleam. A reflective surface can better hide any scratches and chips.
It’s also time to tackle any limescale build-up with specialist cleaners and clean the grout in your bathroom or kitchen tiles. You can buy inexpensive brushes that will make this job far easier.
Make sure your windows and mirrors sparkle!
Decluttering
Piles of stuff on every surface are a no-no as it can make it much harder for others to envisage living there. Decluttering countertops, hiding toys, pet items and gym equipment is essential.
Too many personal items, such as family photographs, can be distracting – it’s easy enough to hide them away in drawers.
If you have a messy ‘working from home’ area, tidy papers, files and ideally put away the desk and chair to avoid the room looking too cramped.
Set the scene
Think about that all-important kerb appeal. A tidy front garden or communal area will help create the right first impression and the addition of some healthy-looking pot plants will make your home feel welcoming.
Let in the light by opening blinds, shutters and curtains, and air the place prior to a viewing to minimise any unpleasant odours. Not everyone is keen on cooking smells (unless it happens to be freshly baked bread), or the aroma of your old family dog.
Pet beds, food and toys should be removed and ideally your dog taken out for the duration of a visit. Small children may be scared of them and many people suffer from allergies.
Dress your home with flowers and display them in an attractive vase. Upping your quota of house plants, without going overboard, can also add spring fresh appeal.
Garden
With the onset of summer, prospective buyers will be looking with interest at the condition of your garden.
It may be early in the season for planting out the more delicate varieties but there’s nothing to stop you from having a general tidy-up. Trim bushes, weed beds, jet wash patio stones or decking and clear any piles of leaves left over from autumn. A freshly mowed lawn will make a garden look loved and ready for the next owners to enjoy.
More on Selling Your Home
Read more tips for making a quick sale now!
And if you are interested in a no-obligation valuation or would like some advice about selling your home through Michael Hardy this spring, please contact us on Wokingham 0118 9776 776 or Crowthorne 01344 779 999.