IF YOU’RE trying to sell your home, you can make sure it stands out in all the right ways by using these tips.
Giving your house a spring clean and making sure it smells fresh are just two of the ways to make it more appealing to buyers.
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You don’t have to spend a fortune to get your property ready for viewings, either.
In fact, you can get it in shape without spending a single penny.
David Beard, property guru at LendingExpert.co.uk, has shared his top tips for preparing your home for a sale for free.
He said: “You’ve got to put the effort in for every single viewing – which might feel painful at the time, but your home is your most valuable asset, and it will be worth it in the long run.
David added: “If you’re concerned you’re not seeing what others see, get a second opinion from family and friends who will be honest with you about smells, cleanliness and the layout of your home”.
Here’s David’s top tips for getting your house viewing-ready on a budget.
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Tidy the front garden
Give the best first impression of your home by making sure it’s neat and tidy outside.
David recommended clearing away dead leaves, weeds and untidy branches in the front garden.
If you have gravel, rake it to even out any bare patches and mow your lawn and trim hedges.
Finally your wheelie bins out of sight so your home looks as neat as possible.
Freshen up the front of the house
Once your garden is sorted out, give the outside of the property a quick once over.
You can clean the outside of your windows to get rid of any grime.
Park your car away from the front of your home so potential buyers get a proper view of the front.
Get rid of bad smells
A bad smell could discourage viewers from putting in an offer.
David said: “Some of the most common reasons properties take ages to sell is cleanliness and odour.
“Pets, tobacco, and houses’ general hygiene are all it takes to turn off potential buyers.”
Avoid cooking smelly foods the night before the viewing as the scent could linger.
If you’re a smoker, don’t light up in your house before the viewing and make sure to remove all ashtrays.
You should empty all of your bins to make sure there’s no chance of smelly rubbish ruining your chances of selling.
If you have any scented candles to hand you should light those, or if you have the ingredients for baking, that could also mask any lingering smells.
De-pet your home
You could temporarily relocate any caged pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs and birds while the viewing is taking place.
Move food bowls, toys and beds when you have potential buyers coming round.
Homeowners should also remove dog and cat hairs from sofas, beds and carpets.
This will make your home look fresh and clean, and will also reduce any bad smells.
Hide personal items
You should make your home a clean slate so buyers can imagine themselves living there.
Remove family photos and tuck away everyday items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and other toiletries.
Finally, put all your towels and flannels in the laundry basket.
Clean the bathroom and kitchen
It might sound obvious, but you should make sure your kitchen and bathroom are sparkling clean when potential buyers come round.
Don’t have a shower just before people come round otherwise the bathroom will feel damp and unappealing.
If your shower curtain looks dirty, give it a wash before the viewing.
In the kitchen, put the washing up away and hide your rubber gloves and washing up liquid.
Put any food items on the surfaces into the cupboard so it looks as tidy as possible.
Furniture arrangement
If you can, find out what the potential buyers are looking for from the house.
For example, if they need a home office or a nursery you could arrange the rooms to show how that set up can work in your home.
Make sure you can walk freely through the house without bumping into any furniture and declutter all the surfaces.
It could even be a good opportunity to sell items you don’t want anymore, so you could even make some extra cash.
Add house plants
House plants can brighten up your home and add colour.
If you don’t have any, check with your friends and family to see if you could borrow some for your viewings.
If you do have house plants or flowers, make sure they’re looking their best.
Remove any that are dead or wilting, as that can have the opposite impact.
Let some light in
Your home could look better in natural daylight, so clean and polish your windows ahead of the viewings.
Make sure all curtains and blinds in your home are open to let more light in.
Finishing touches
Make a to do list of all the little fixes that need to be completed before inviting potential buyers to view your home.
For example, repairing broken door handles, cupboards and toilet roll holders will improve the overall look of your property.
Filling up holes in the walls and touching them up with paint is also a good idea if you have the tools to hand.
Clean all mirrors and surfaces around your house, too.
Finally, change your bed linen and make sure all the beds are neatly made up.
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