Preparing your home for sale
When it comes to moving home, you are probably more focused on what you want from your new house rather than thinking about the sale of your old house. But it is important to make sure that your old house is shown in its best light to get the best price in a reasonable time. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you prepare beforehand.
1. Clean everything, and then clean it again
This is one of the best things you can do to prepare. You want to clean everything. The tops of all those cabinets, pull out the sofa, everything. Pay particular attention to grouting and sealants in kitchens and bathrooms.
2. Consider how your place smells
You want to be careful of what smells are lingering in your home. The smells to be mindful of are cooking, smoking, and pets. Different people will be more sensitive to smells than others. If I were to put my house on the market today, I would be mindful that I have a dog, so I would remove his bed on viewings and make sure he is out of the house and spray some air-freshener or light a scented candle, in case the buyer is more sensitive to the smell.
3. Declutter
This is obviously very important, if not the most important. You want to be showing off your space, and for the buyers to envisage the lifestyle. A great tip, which is free, is to hide the cluttered items in a temporary space in the house, especially for the photography appointment. This will give your home a more spacious and new home feel.
4. Tone down the decor
You want your buyers to be able to see themselves in your property. We think personality in a home is fine, but neutral decor is usually considered a safer option. If you have any particularly dark rooms that feel small because of the decor it is worth asking the agent's opinion on whether to consider a more neutral colour scheme.
5. Let the outside in
You want to let as much light as possible into your home, so open all the windows, pin back curtains, and show it off. You might also want to consider putting some potted plants around or putting down some vases of flowers, and this will add to the freshness of your property.
6. Turn your bathroom into a spa
Make sure that your bathroom is looking like a calm and relaxing place. We already touched on it in the first point, but be sure to address your grouting, sealant, mould, and limescale. Stack some pretty, coordinated towels around. Add some scented candles, and maybe a small plant pot or two. Make sure you have matching bathmats and towels to give an intentional feel and put the toilet seat down!
These are just some of the things you can do around your home, if you want any more tips, feel free to get in touch and we would be happy to help.
