Selling a property can be hard work but it can be made quite simple by just doing a few jobs which will show it is its best light. And look really attractive to buyers!
As a Bolton Estate Agent we spend lots of our time visiting properties so we know what works!
Let’s start on the inside . . . . .
Property Appearance
Staging a property – a great idea and this is something property developers do when they are trying to sell a new home – can be a good way of getting someone to fall in love with it.
Tidy up: A sort of given but an easy mistake is to forget to ensure each and every viewing has the property as clean and tidy as it can be. Prospective buyers won’t appreciate having to step over your toddler’s toys or looking at your dirty dishes from the night before.
Make up the beds: Use neutral bedding to make up the beds and accessorise them with cushions so that they look inviting to viewers.
Lay the table for dinner: Not something everyone does but a real hit with buyers is to put out your best plates, napkins and glasses. This helps people to imagine themselves in your home entertaining their friends and family.
Add fluffy towels to the bathroom: Fold the towels and make sure they are clean and neutral in colour.
Turn on lamps: Make sure lamps are working and are on. This can make dark corners look brighter but can also help to make a property feel cosy.
Make it smell lovely: Nobody likes the smell of wet dog, stale cigarettes or cooking smells! Bake bread or brew coffee in the kitchen to help disguise smells and give it a homely feel. Also consider burning scented candles or essential oils in other rooms.
Control the temperature: Make sure the property is warm in cold weather and cool in hot temperatures. Gives it that homely feel not matter what time of year it is.
Use of flowers: Flowers can really lift a room and give people a ‘feel good’ feeling. If you don’t want to always get fresh flowers you can now buy some really good fake ones.
Get rid of clutter: If you have lots of old toys, nicnacs, or just unnecessary stuff around the house find somewhere to store it. This will make the rooms in the property feel bigger.
Remove mail from the doormat before viewings. A large pile of mail left on the floor can make it difficult for the potential buyer to even get through the door. It can also make it feel unwelcoming.
Put rooms back to their original use: If you are now using the dining room as a gym and the spare bedroom as an office try to put these rooms back to the use they were originally intended for. People can sometimes find it hard to imagine a house as having 3 bedrooms if they can only see one.
Outside the Property
Kerb appeal can be everything. People have often made a decision about whether or not they are interested in buying a property just from how it looks on the outside before they step over the threshold. This means it’s important that you get the property looking its best on the outside – not just on the inside.
Clean windows: If your windows are covered in a layer of dirt it doesn’t make the property seem loved or looked after. Not only will this help the outside appearance of the property but it will also help it look better from the inside too.
Ensure the house number is clearly visible: You want people to be able to find your property when they are coming to view it!
Leave on an outside light in the winter months. Bolton can be a gloomy place in winter so and it does get dark early in the winter months so if you have a lamp or light outside your property leave it on until you go to bed so people passing by can see your home.
Cut back overhanging trees or large bushes. Not only can these look messy from the outside they can block light getting inside the property which can make it feel dark and dingy
