When it comes to selling your house, it literally pays to make sure you show it off to its full potential. A house that’s tidy, clean, and in full working order will not only sell faster, it will also be worth more.
Decluttering
Potential buyers need to have a clear view of the property without being distracted by its contents. That means tidying away as many things as possible without removing the character of the home.
Now’s the time to get rid of all the things that take up space without getting used anymore. Sell, throw away or give away any useless stuff, like that exercise bike you’ve only used twice.
Create as much space as possible by removing unnecessary furniture and bulky ornaments. If there are things you want to keep for your next property, consider putting these into storage until you need them.
Make sure any outdoor areas are tidy and well kept. That means mowing and weeding the lawn and getting rid of garden rubbish. Tools and garden toys should be neatly put away in the shed or the garage. Garden gnomes should be destroyed.
Refurbishing
Unless they have a particular vision, or they’re masochists, most people don’t want a load of work to do after they’ve moved in. Repairing, replacing and repainting things now will help remove barriers to buying.
Repaint walls and other surfaces to make rooms look newer and brighter. Use subtle shades and neutral colours, as this will help viewers to imagine themselves in the property, rather than be alienated by bold colour schemes that don’t match their taste.
That goes for the outside of the house too. Make sure windows are clean and window frames are in good condition. Replace missing roof tiles and leaky sections of guttering and drainpipes if necessary. Give fence panels and gates a new lick of paint or preservative.
And don’t forget the front door! After all, it’s one of the first things viewers will see, so get polishing those knockers.
Deep cleaning
When you’ve lived in a property for a while it’s easy to become desensitised to its overall cleanliness, a condition commonly known as dirtblindness. Thankfully, a deep clean can revitalise a property’s appearance, so now’s the time to strap on your pinny and recreate Queen’s video for ‘I Want To Break Free.’
Carpets should be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed. If it’s been a while since a carpet has had a proper deep clean, you’ll be surprised at the positive transformation this can bring about, and it may be enough to avoid having to replace it with a new one.
Wash hard floors and wax wooden ones to make them shine. Kitchen and bathrooms should be sparkly clean. Get rid of any limescale or mildew and replace any tile grouting that’s beyond saving.
Other tips
- Fill some vases with fresh flowers or dot some healthy houseplants about to brighten the place up.
- Consider the smell of your house. Light scented candles or bake something nice to fill the place with a pleasant, homely aroma before a viewing. Think cookies, not broccoli and stilton soup.
- A bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen or on a coffee table can be a nice touch. Ideally with more than just a banana and two oranges.
How we can help
The vast majority of these tasks shouldn’t be too tough for you to tackle yourself, and it’s in the best interests of saving money too. However, if time is short or you’d prefer to trust a professional instead, we’re here to help make things easier.
Find temporary storage
While the easiest option is often to just throw things away, sometimes you may want to keep things to use in your new property. Renting some short-term storage space is a good way to declutter your home without throwing away furniture or other items that may come in handy later. Our database features a wide selection of temporary storage choices to suit your needs, and allows you to compare prices to find the right fit for you and your stuff.
Find a tradesperson
It’s almost always cheaper to do a job yourself, but if you’re not confident in your ability to make the required refurbishments to your home, it may be wise to hire a professional. Before you make a decision, check out our handy list of certified tradespeople, from painters and decorators to plumbers.
Find a professional cleaner
Getting a property as clean as it can be doesn’t require much in the way of special skills, but it does mean getting your hands dirty. If you’re not prepared to put in the hard graft yourself, you can always hire cleaners to get your place spick and span. Our index of professional cleaning services is an easy way to find and compare options so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
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