In the current financial climate it has been stated that it is a “buyer’s market” with many sellers having to reduce the prices of their homes significantly but are they getting as much as they should?  We have put together some simple tips on how best to present your house to achieve that all important sale.

1. Remember it is a buyer’s market at the moment. If you don’t need to sell now – don’t do it, wait until the property prices pick up.
2. Price your house correctly. Get an idea of the quality of the competition. Look at similar properties in your neighbourhood and put your house in the same price range.
3. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.  You need to make sure that as the buyer drives up to the house it has “kerb appeal”. Get rid of the rubbish, toys, etc. Keep the garden tidy. Put some nice flowers out there, carry out obvious repairs and if necessary repaint/revarnish.
4. Remove the clutter. If your house is overfull it looks crowded and it makes the rooms look small, you want to achieve the impression that there is plenty of space for the prospective buyer to live and grow. For example, if your clothes are all crammed into the built in wardrobes he will assume that there isn’t enough space for his clothes either. This may mean temporarily packing up some of your possessions and putting them into storage but the effect is worth it.
5. Clean up throughout. You need to show your house at it’s best. Don’t assume that the buyer will see past the washing up or dirty laundry, his eyes will be drawn to the mess and not the overall size or important features of the room.  Cleaning the windows will let the light in and give a clean bright look to the rooms. 
6. Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.  Clean the tiles and grout to make them like new. If they are stained and greasy the buyer will think he has to retile which is not a cheap job.  Look at the sealant around the sinks and bath, if it looks less than perfect replace it, it doesn’t cost very much but makes a much better impression. Adjust cupboard doors so that they hang evenly. Replace cupboard door handles and hinges if they are looking tired to give your units a new lease of life.
7. Carry out minor repairs. Even if there are only small jobs that need doing the buyer will use this as a reason to knock the price down.
8. In short, stage your home like a show house. Have clean bedding on well made beds, towels should match and be hung tidily in bathrooms, kitchens should be well lit either by natural or artificial light, lounges and terraces should appear as though you could just sit down with a glass of wine to relax for the evening. 

Finally, don’t forget that viewers will be comparing your home to every other one they’ve seen in the same price bracket, so aim to make yours the best.

This article was supplied courtesy of First Impressions