Expert tips on how to sell your house
By Josh Haggis
Selling your home can be one of the most stressful times in your life. You have that urge to find pastures new but you can’t go anywhere until you get rid of the home you’re in, and in this topsy turvy housing market it’s even more difficult. Here, we present you with some handy advice on how you can win over prospective buyers by presenting them with a palace and not the Bates Motel.
Don’t overhaul – update!
If you have people popping by to check out your pad, make sure it’s presentable. But you needn’t go overboard and redecorate the whole damn place! Instead focus on tidying up a few iffy areas. Repaint the front door if shabby, touch up any skirting boards or door frames and aim to neutralise any overt colour schemes or ‘statement’ pieces. You don’t want people to be dazzled when they walk around.
Don’t get too personal – your house is now a showroom!
Sure, you’re selling a lifestyle but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s your own. Your home is now part showroom so make it as easy to see as possible. Buyers are hunting for storage so won’t be afraid to open cupboards – be prepared! Stash those Bel Ami DVDs in a more discreet area. Also consider moving unnecessary clutter into storage to maximise space – remember, it’ll help with the move. Dress any bare windows with simple blinds, switch old appliances with any new purchases and consider refacing cabinets to freshen up a tired-looking kitchen.
Don’t look too desperate
Desperation is never a good look, so don’t let it ruin your chances of selling up and moving on. Let on to an estate agent the real reasons you’re relocating and it’ll be headline news to encourage a sale. Let them downplay the noisy neighbours and dodge any awkward questions but don’t get yourself caught up confiding in an estate agent who might kiss-and-tell.
Word of mouth
Speak to your neighbours and friends to use word of mouth to your advantage. Tell them you’re thinking of moving – invite them over and soon you’ll have someone who can vouch for your place’s potential. Chances are they’ll know someone looking, and even better it is likely they will be among your target buyers.
Let viewers wander freely
Don’t hound prospective buyers; let them walk around your pad at their will. Of course, show an interest in them but let them explore the house on their own ensuring them you will answer any questions they have. Check some emails, take a coffee break, worry about them quietly robbing you under your own nose if you must, but keep yourself available in case an opportunity to seal the deal arises.
Fill the house with smells
This doesn’t mean you have to fill the place with Glade plug ins. A waft of freshly baked bread, or if you are not much of a baker, freshly made coffee will help to fill your house with an alluring aroma. Keep your windows open to let in fresh air and fix sources of bad smells – don’t just mask them. If you smoke, put out bowls of vinegar three days before the viewing to eliminate the smell. Throw the vinegar out on the morning of your viewing and open the windows. The vinegar smell will disappear quickly taking the stale smoke with it, leaving you’re potential buyers none the wiser. And if you have a smelly cat or dog, make sure that tray is fresh and clean!
Keep pets hidden away
No matter how much you love them, pets will be a distraction to any potential buyers, especially if your manky moggy has a tendency to pee all over the place. Pet lovers will make a fuss, ignoring property highlights, while others may be put off of a property with a pet, feeling nervous or even fearful. It’s helpful to remember not everyone grew up surrounded by animals. It may be emotional but convincing someone to look after your little treasure during an open house will be the best option for you and your house!
Turn on the lights!
A simple idea, but if you have a dingy corner of a room use, lights to brighten the place up. Remember eco-friendly bulbs take a while to warm up and so turn them on before buyers arrive to avoid an anti-climatic switch on.
Test run
Now the fun part – pick a friend and invite them over for a test run. Get them to go to town on anything they see which they don’t like. Is your place still too cluttered? Does the layout make no sense? Is there still the faintest whiff of your beloved moggy? This is what real friends are for!