DECLUTTER – BUT DON’T DEPERSONALISE

Get rid of all the excess stuff that has accumulated in every nook and cranny. Put it in storage or give it to a friend. People need to be able to envisage what the property would look

like if they were living there. People often find this difficult, so make it easy for them to see all the fantastic living space you’re offering them. Don’t make it look like a generic hotel; leave some personality.

Apart from anything else, it gives unimaginative buyers suggestions as to what they might do. People are often buying into a lifestyle as much as a property. Show them the attractive side of your lifestyle. Consider removing any bulky furniture that makes the room feel small and replacing it with smaller furniture

A FRESH LICK OF PAINT

Giving your walls a fresh lick of neutral paint will make your home seem lighter and bigger. It will enable the viewers to more easily imagine how they would adapt the rooms to their needs. It will be easier for the buyers to move in and use the rooms immediately than if the walls were still bright purple or lime green. Create a good first impression – give the front door a new coat of brightly coloured paint.

FIX AND CLEAN

Make any minor repairs necessary – holes in walls, broken doorknobs, cracked tiles, torn or threadbare carpets. Many buyers want to move in without making changes, so allow for this. Clean everything until it sparkles. Get rid of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax wooden floors, get rid of all odours, hang up fresh towels. This will make the place more appealing and allow viewers to imagine living there. Tidy up the garden: cut bushes back, clean the patio and furniture of dirt, and cut the grass. While this doesn’t add much value to your home it makes it more likely to sell as people visualise themselves using the garden

UPDATE THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is the most valuable room in a house. It is worth the most per square foot and can make the difference when buyers are unsure. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinetry. This is much cheaper than installing new cabinetry and often as effective .Upgrading kitchen countertops are expensive, but can add serious value. Declutter the surfaces and just leave a bowl of fruit out. Take out any bulky appliances. Consider upgrading the plumbing fixtures and white goods, but keep in mind that while that could make your property sell faster, you will be unlikely to recoup their full value

LIGHT AND AIRY

Wall mirrors make a room look much bigger and lighter. Consider putting some up, especially in smaller rooms or hallways. Clean windows inside and out, and replace any broken light bulbs. Making the place feel light and airy makes rooms feel bigger and the property more attractive. Ensure that you have lamps on in any dark corners. Putting a soft lamp in the bathroom can create a warm glow

LIGHT A FIRE

If it’s a cold evening, or even chilly day, light your fire. Consider burning some pinecones for the delicious smell. This will make your home feel warm and inviting. If you don’t have a fire then ensure the fireplace is clean.

MAKE IT LOOK PRETTY

Make sure the windows are properly dressed with blinds or curtains as naked windows make a place feel impersonal and run down. Buy some cheap ones (e.g. from Ikea) if necessary. Plants and flowers bring colour, life and light to a room and also smell wonderful. So does that fruit bowl on your kitchen counter

GET THE RIGHT SMELLS

Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Don’t just cover them up, fix the source of the smell. Clear drains, wash bins, open windows, air the kitchen from old cooking smells, get rid of furniture that is embedded with cigarette smoke, and wash any grimy bed sheets. If you are a smoker, place bowls of vinegar around the house and leave out for three days. Though the vinegar will smell when you open the windows it will disappear quickly taking most of the stale cigarette smell out with it. Conversely, good smells can make a property feel like an alluring home. While it might be impractical to bake fresh bread, cakes or brownies for every viewer that visits your home, you could perhaps brew some fresh coffee.

SHOWING THE PROPERTY

The single best thing you can do is put trust in your estate agent. It’s their job to know what things to say, what to highlight and what to downplay. They are also effective at answering those tricky questions about the noisy neighbours so, Let them do what they do, they are the professionals after all…