Most of these you have probably heard before, but it never hurts to hear them again, especially if it makes you look at your home in a different way. We all get used to living in our homes as they are, those little things that bugged us 2 years ago doesn't seem to bad now and we often forget about the small stuff.
These points may be harsh, but they are true. Take a really good look around your home as if you were viewing it for the first time. Pretend you are a buyer - what would put you off? Is there something that needs addressing? What do you love? Good points are as important as the bad, so make the most of a beautiful feature, make sure it's not hidden away with clutter. Make the most of your home and it will pay you back tenfold.
1. Curb AppealI cannot stress enough how important this is. A lot of people view homes before asking for details. If they like the look of the outside or the neighbourhood, they'll make an appointment to view inside. Therefore, keeping your home in tip-top condition AT ALL TIMES outside is essential. No bins in the driveway, leftover rubble from a construction project should be disposed of, weeds in the drive cleared, flowers in the pots not dead sticks... a day doing this will reap massive benefits and keeping on top of it will be so much easier. Also, make sure your agent has a great outside shot of your home. It is the first thing people searching on the internet see, so make sure yours stands out from the crowd and looks it's best.
2. Clutter
A home for everything and everything in it's place. It's hard to do when you have a house full of people dumping things everywhere, but a potential buyer will not see the reasons, just the fact that they have nowhere to put anything.
The best way to overcome this is to declutter and throw out things that you've been meaning to sort out for ages. Once you've got rid of the rubbish and broken stuff, start packing up the things you hardly use. If it's summer, pack away your winter coats, if it's winter, the barbeque stuff could be packed up (unless you're a hardened barbeque fan :) ) This will make moving easier as you will be half way there and opens up much more room for the everyday stuff that you are currently using. Storage boxes and chests are a great way to clear quickly toys and things before a viewing. Common sense is key here, you need easy ways to do this quickly and easily for you, and nagging the kids to keep their stuff tidy will also help :).
3. Cleaning
Again, this is massively important. Clean, clean and clean again is the motto here. have a really good spring clean before your house goes on the market and then really keep on top of it. If necessary, splash out on a cleaner to give you a hand. Windows need to be sparkling inside and out, skirtings need to be dust free, bathrooms and kitchens need to shine like the 'Flash' adverts we've all seen on the TV, there is nothing worse than walking into a dirty home. It is offputting and will not encourage buyers.
4. Red Flags
These are areas of maintenance that you have been meaning to get done but are still outstanding. They make buyers wonder what else is outstanding that they cannot see, like electrics, boiler maintenance, etc. If a curtain pole is hanging down, put it back up, if a door is hanging off, rehang it. Basically, get these things done or they will hold you up.
5. Neutralise
We all live in our homes in different ways, you may love bright colours, swords and weapons, showing off your doll collections, etc... and that is fine. We are all individuals and have the right to live how we want. The trouble is, we are all individuals, and what is right for you may not be right for someone else. It is great to say 'tough, I am what I am and people will like my home or lump it', but that will not get you a sale. If people cannot see past your stuff they cannot see themselves living in your home so will not want to buy.
So pack away your collections and neutralise your paintwork. Allow people to see your home so that they can see their collections and colour schemes there and imagine themselves living in the space. You are moving on so it doesn't matter. You can recreate anything you want in your new home - from a room full of teddies to the command centre of the Enterprise - your new home will be yours to do with as you will.
6. Space and Harmony
This goes along with the decluttering and neutralising. Once these have been done, make sure your home flows. Create space by moving furniture so that it allows easy access. A room that flows from one area to another makes people feel at ease and makes a home homely.
7. Fresh Plants and Flowers
Fresh flowers and real plants help keep a room fresh and smelling lovely. It adds life and interest and helps soften hard corners and spaces and is a really cheap and easy way to fill shelves.
8. Check for Smells
Smells can linger for a long time, and often we can live with a smell and not even notice it - have you seen the advert for the three changing plugins? we get used to a smell so don't even notice it any more. Here I would suggest getting a really good friend to come round and tell you HONESTLY if there are any smells in your home. Don't be embarrassed about them, it is a natural thing sometimes, but whatever they are you need to deal with them. If you have a blocked sink that is causing you to have a mouldy smell in your kitchen, get a plumber in, if you have dogs that are making your home smell, get them cleaned and have your carpets cleaned too. You do not want to be remembered by buyers as the smelly house.
9. Adequate Lighting
How many times have you walked into a room and the glare makes you squint, or it's so dark you trip up something? If your front room light is really bright, consider a dimmer or using lamps and other lighting instead. Add a higher watt bulb if your room is dark and above all, replace those bulbs that are missing. Check your home has comfortable lighting in every room
10. If you're unsure, ask a professional
If, after reading all the above you are still not sure what you need to do, ask a professional. There are home stagers all over the country that are ready to help should you need one, and costs don't have to be a lot, you could have a verbal consultation from as little as £150 to tell you exactly what to do. Staging your home doesn't have to create a showhome, it just has to create a home that is comfortable and encourages buyers to view and buy. And it can be cheaper than reducing your price after being on the market for a long time. Consider the pros and cons of staging and make up your mind from there.
Good luck with selling your homes, I hope they go quickly and easily for you.
Denise
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