Presentation of your Property
When putting their property on the market, many people will ask the question….is there anything we need to do to improve our chances or to make the property more appealing? More often than not, the people that ask the question don’t need to do anything. It’s the ones that don’t ask that could do with the help.
If you are going to the market with your home, it’s a good idea to try and see it from a viewers’ angle both inside and out.
The first impression when a potential buyer either drives passed doing their initial view or pulls up at the door is most important. As often said, it’s that first impression that counts. Try not to have litter in the garden and remove shopping bags that have got tangled in your hedge. Keep the grass down and the weeds under control, shine up the front door and clean your windows and frames. I would even go to the extent of checking your street for broken car glass. It takes seconds to brush up and won’t be there to spark a thought in a buyers mind that the area could be prone to car crime. This all helps to give your prospect a positive image of the location before they walk through the door.
To create a good impression when entering the property make sure that it feels as welcoming as possible. Coats and shoes should be put away, smells of pets or cigarette smoke should be neautralised and the place should be well lit. If you use energy saving light bulbs then make sure they are switched on in plenty of time before the appointment.
Your living rooms should be as light as possible. Draw the curtains well back in daylight hours and clear away as much clutter as possible, maximising on the space available and not taking the focus off the room size.
The kitchen should be as clear as possible on the work surfaces. The room can be dressed with co-ordinated kitchen equipment but overcrowded unit tops indicate lack of storage and can be off putting. Clean your kitchen thoroughly. Viewers will sometimes open the oven door and if it isn’t well kept they will automatically register a £500 cost to replace it.
Bedrooms should be clothes free and dirty linen out of sight. The beds should be made and dressed where possible. Again, the curtains should be pulled well back and the rooms are shown as light as possible.
The bathrooms or shower rooms should be clean and smell fresh. Mildew or discoloured grout will make your potential buyers think they have to re tile when half hour with a suitable detergent would resolve it. Polish your shower screen and put your shampoos and tooth brushes out of sight. People see a bathroom as a very personal space and if it isn’t gleaming they will feel like it needs to be refitted as a priority.
The gardens should be neat and tidy and your garage in order. Most people accept that garages are often used for excess storage areas and will expect to see them full, but try to keep them reasonably well organised so that the size can be appreciated.
All this said, staging your property needs to be subtle and the age old methods of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee are too contrived. A clean odourless property which is as clutter free as possible will appear far more attractive to your viewers.
Lastly, the fewer people in the property when your viewing is taking place the better. Viewers will be much more comfortable and feel less pressured if the house is unoccupied at the time.
