TOP 10 TIPS FOR PRESENTING YOUR HOME TO SELL

1. First impressions count

Most buyers will have made a decision about your home within a few seconds of standing outside your front door. Essential things to do include tidying the front garden, cleaning the front door or window sills, plant flowers and trim back bushes. You want your property to have kerb appeal!

2. De-clutter and de-personalise

Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves living in your home, so it’s best to take down children’s posters, walls full of photos aren't a bad thing - it looks homely, make sure teddy bear collections are stored out of sight. Ideally, anything you don’t use on a daily basis should be put away. Kitchen work surfaces, around the bath and on top of drawers all need to be clutter free. Viewers should be able to view your property without any distractions.

3. Freshen things up

A fresh coat of neutral paint in the hallway, clean tiles around the sink, a new kitchen worktop or re-grouting around the bath are a good idea to keep your property looking modern and clean and appealing to a buyer.

4. The big clean!

Use this opportunity to clear out cupboards, dust above your wardrobes and shelves. Cleanliness and tidiness should never be underestimated so clean each room from corner to corner. Make sure your bathroom and toilets are clean and eliminate any animal and cooking odours to make your home smells fresh and appealing.

5. Define your rooms

If you have three bedrooms, then present your property showing you have three bedrooms. Don’t use your third bedroom as a computer room or use your dining room as a makeshift gym. Buyers tend only to see useable space and will assume the bedroom is too small for a bed or the dining room is really too small to dine in. This will put buyers off and depreciate the value of your home.

6. Keep it neutral and light

Neutral colours will not put buyers off, but often bright or dark colours will. Keeping your home neutral will help buyers see how they can put their own stamp on the property. It will also help lighten any darker rooms. A mirror hanging in the hallway can give the illusion of space.

7. Make the most of your outdoor space

Gardens and yards can be great selling features but an overgrown mess isn’t. Weeding, pruning and planting is vital to make outdoor areas useable and attractive to buyers.

8. The small things count

Before you show any buyers around, be sure you have dealt with all the little jobs around the home. Replace blown light bulbs, tighten the screws and hinges of cupboard doors, put the kick-board back in the kitchen, and fix the skirting board or beading along the laminated flooring. The less issues the less chance of the potential buyer being put off.

9. Neighbourhood

How does your neighbour’s property and garden look? Do they have an overgrown garden or have rubbish on display? Have a chat with them and maybe offer to cut their hedges or take the rubbish to the local tip for them. It isn’t just your property that the buyers will be looking at, location is key. It is also helpful to point out local schools, shops and motorway connections to a buyer. Making the neighbourhood more appealing is an asset to any buyer.

10. Disassociate yourself with your home

Make the mental decision to ‘let go’ of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours. Not every buyer will love your home the way you do. So don’t take negative comments to heart!