First Impressions Count!

Make sure that the outside of your property is looking it's best. If any cosmetic work needs to be done - repainting a door, mowing the lawn etc - attend to it before you put your house on the market.

Try standing outside your property and looking sat it from a buyers point of view. Get a feel for other homes in your street and make a mental note of what properties stand out more than the others...and why! Easy, DIY improvements can help a sale; a manicured hedge, some new pot plants, a jet washed path to the front door. Every little helps.

When you reach your front door there are still a few checks to be made.

Does the front doorbell work?
If it has a doorknocker, is it sturdy and polished?
Does the door open smoothly and quietly?
When you have let a potential buyer in can you close it easily?
What is the first thing a buyer will see when they enter the property?

By running through this short and simple checklist and attending to any problems that arise, you will create an excellent first impression. If your property does not look good from the front, 'drive by' buyers who are checking the property prior to a viewing may gloss over it all together...

The Entrance

Once the front door has closed you need to show people around your clean, bright property. Your home should be clean and tidy at all times. A buyer may wish to contact you and view the property the same afternoon, so you need to be prepared! Excess clutter will stop viewers from accurately gauging the size of the rooms that you have to offer, while an unclean house is never attractive.

A nice door mat to wipe your feet on at the front door is a good idea, as is checking your lighting is up to scratch; if the hallway is dark and dingy, you need to brighten things up. A simple fix is to check the wattage of your light bulbs and replace them with brighter ones if needed. Always make sure that your light fittings have lampshades if required, and do not go too bright - you do not want to hurt your visitors' eyes!

The Living Room

The first room to be viewed is generally the living room. This is where most people sit down with their families and relax, so you need to have the mood set for this - lighting is crucial here so make sure the room feels warm and welcoming. The carpet needs to be 100% clean, and it may be worth hiring a professional carpet cleaner - you will be amazed at the difference.

During the day, curtains should be evenly seperated and tied back to the wall. All unnecessary items should be removed from the floor to give the impression of space. Make sure that there is no paint on any of the electrical sockets or light switches in the house - it can raise questions as to the standard of DIY in the property. You can remove this with a filling blade or scraper. Check for fingerprint marks around the sockets as well - you can normally remove these with a cloth.

The Dining Room

The dining room is an important space. Lay the table with your best plates and cutlery, and if possible, some nice candles will really help. It is accepted you do not always eat this way and neither will your buyer, but you are selling an ideal! Make it so potential buyers will want to sit and have their meals here in the future.

The Kitchen

Arguably the most important room in the house, the kitchen is widely regarded as the heart of a property. You want your kitchen to feel as welcoming and tidy as possible. Make sure the sides are relatively clear - having too much on display may imply there is not enough storage space. Remove all items from your work surface and your sink; clean the surface and all taps and splash backs. In particuar make sure to clean the oven inside and out as best as you can and replace the shelves if they are looking tired.

Add more colour to your kitchen by introducing some fresh flowers in a nice vase- it can make a real difference. Clean the windows inside and out and wash the floor so it's not sticky or greasy.

Upstairs

Check your stairs for any creaking noises. Again, clean and polish the handrail, remove family photos and replace with various prints to neturalise the property is recommended. Take five minutes to look around, but look around through the eyes of a buyer. What takes your attention? Is it the crack in the wall or the mirror that has never been straight? Note it down to be fixed. If you have children maybe they have put stickers on the doors...these will need to be removed.

The Bedrooms

Master Bedrooms are second only to Kitchens in their importance. If you have any large wardrobes that are taking up too much space or light remove them and all the other personal things that you have lying around; space is what we need to show. Always make sure that the bed is made and is dressed with your best covers. If the viewing is to take place in the evening, put your bedside lights on and turn off your main ceiling / wall lighting. Let them walk into the room first so they can see what a relaxing space it is - then you can turn the main light on if needed.

Take a good look at the view out of your bedroom window too. Is there anything in your garden that you didn’t spot at ground level but you need to attend to. Remember, if you can see it, your buyers will as well. There is no need to go through every bedroom detailing what to do because this small reference is enough to cover all the bedrooms in your house.

Outside

Most of us have grass in our gardens, this will need to be cut and all the verges need to be trimmed. All dead flower heads need to be removed and thrown away. If you can fork the soil to generate some air and body into the soil, it really does make the flowers stand out more.

If you have decking in your garden, make sure that it is not damaged in anyway. If possible, give it a fresh coat of preservative; decking is a good selling point in the garden.

Ponds need to be attended to and kept clean by removing all weeds. Your garden shed needs to be tidy and your garden tools hung on the walls of the shed to give more space on the floor. Pathways and stones need to be kept clean from weeds to give your property an overall first class appearance.

The last thing on the list to prepare for selling is the garage; nowadays figures show that most people don't actually keep their cars in the garage any more. Garages are generally being used for storage or as a workshop. It is still worth giving it a sweep and if you do have a flat roof, check its condition; if it is damp get the necessary work carried out before you show it to any buyers. Some flowers in a basket look very attractive on a garage wall.