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"Make the biggest difference with the least effort". Research has shown that people make decisions very quickly - so start with the viewer's first sight of your home - how does the front garden look? Try to view it with your viewer's eyes. Move into the house, check out the entrance hall. Which rooms are the best ones? Try to show these first. Work your way around the house, concentrating the greatest effort on the early rooms. Will the buyer be able to see themselves living there?
- Remove unsightly items from front garden, e.g. dust bins, children's bicycles, etc. These can be placed in the shed or back garden during the viewing.
- A few colourful flowers can make a difference. In the garden, a few annual plants can be a cheap way to make that good first impression. Within the house, a few fresh flowers can make the house more vibrant. With cut flowers however, ensure they do look fresh, if they are withering it is best to get rid of them.
- Clear away clutter, free up passageways and, if possible, rearrange furniture to make living areas seem more spacious. Even clearing away ornaments, fridge magnets, clearing surfaces can help.
- If you need to redecorate, use light, nondescript colours (magnolia is the cliched favourite). It makes the room seem larger, and is easier for buyers to redecorate to their own taste.
- For blank walls that seem lifeless, a few prints may just do the trick - try these two sites for reasonable prints World Gallery and Art Republic.
Those little jobs that need finishing off can also be a good idea if they would be notiseable to a viewer. Ask a friend to view the house and let you know these things (an estate agent may feel uncomfortable with pointing some of these jobs out).
Focus DIY has some tips on how to tackle some of the more common DIY jobs and assist you in creating a better finish.
More Serious Issues
If the house is in need of a thorough clean (for instance, it has been let out), then it may be a good idea to call in the professionals. Home Management Services is one such group that can help out with this.
- Pet smells are best eliminated - using air fresheners, airing the house or an air purifier can help.
- Remove condensation with a dehumidifier.
Other Help
Channel 5's The House Doctor gives advice on how to prepare your home for buyers. We think that there is a tendancy to overestimate the power of these changes (and therefore how much you should spend on them), but it is worth a look.
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