Presenting Your Property For Sale
Our team has many years of experience helping people present their homes for sale. In our opinion, making a few small changes can significantly enhance the appeal of your property to buyers, and often substantially increase the final selling price.
First impressions
Stand outside your home and imagine that you are seeing it for the first time. Potential buyers will often form a strong impression of the property before they even step in the door, so it is worth making sure that the outside appearance is attractive.
Ensure that the area outside your door is neat and tidy. If you have a shared entrance, the common area should also be tidy and the entry-phone system smart with the names clearly marked. Any paintwork on the front door should be in good condition.
If you have a garden, remove any weeds, mow the lawn and trim trees and bushes. You may want to consider offering to do the same for your next-door neighbour if an untidy garden is visible from your own property.
Light and space
Indoors, it is important to make your home appear bright and airy. In order to maximise light, open blinds and curtains, turn on lights (including lamps) if dull outside, make sure your windows are clean, and trim any trees or bushes that may be blocking out natural light.
To increase the feeling of spaciousness, remove from sight as much clutter as possible, including unnecessary furniture. You may want to consider also clearing out some cupboards - it will have to be done eventually and will display to buyers the full extent of your storage space. We can suggest off-site storage facilities - see Links.
Pleasant atmosphere
Try to create an environment in which potential purchasers could see themselves living. It might seem obvious, but we regularly see properties where dishes have been left out, or beds have not been neatly made. It can be easy to stop noticing things when you have lived in a property for some time, so consider asking a friend to visit as if looking to buy, in order to gain a fresh perspective.
A few small things you can do to create a pleasant atmosphere include:
- Make sure the property has been thoroughly cleaned from floor to ceiling. In the case of carpets, curtains and upholstery you might consider having this done professionally.
- Repair any small problems, such as sticking drawers or dripping taps.
- Keep the property at a comfortable temperature: in summer open some windows, and in winter turn on the heating.
- Try to reduce the presence of any strong cooking odours.
- You may want to consider temporarily removing any pets.
In some cases it might be worth investing more significant amounts of time or money in improving your property. Our experienced team will be able to advise you on whether such changes are worthwhile, and if so, how to go about making them. If a makeover is required, we can also recommend Home Stagers - see Links.