Michael Tuck Estate Agents in Gloucester have been successfully selling home since 1983 so we are in the perfect position to help you make your home more attractive to purchasers.
Before you put your home on the market to sell, we always recommend that you put in that extra effort in to ensure that it is showcased in the best light.
Preparing your home for viewers is important. It will not only ensure that your property sells faster but for a higher sale price; potentially adding thousands of pounds to its value.
Declutter
Most people tend to accumulate belongings over time. However, clutter can make a home feel small or dirty rather than spacious and airy.
One of the best tips is to have a good thorough sort out of all of your possessions several months before your house goes on the market. You will need to do this before you move house anyway, so now is the perfect time to start.
Anything that you don’t need but has value could be sold on Ebay, on Facebook Marketplace or at the local car boot sale. Items that you don’t use regularly should be put into storage, maybe in the attic or by hiring a storage facility. Any other unwanted items should be taken to charity shops or disposed of at the local Household Recycling Facility.
Some experts say that you should remove all personal items to allow viewers to picture themselves living in the house, but if you don’t go over the top then a few family photos are just fine.
Also think about colour, neutral colours are the best as rooms will immediately appear bigger and brighter, you’ll also create a blank canvas which helps buyers to imagine what their life could be like in the house.
Kerb appeal
The first thing that buyers will see, whether it be from the marketing photos or when they pull up outside your house is your frontage. How does your house look from the road?
Making sure that your home looks appealing from the front is essential if you want the first impression to be a good one. Touching up paintwork, adding plants, improving the landscape should all be high up on your list of priorities.
Fix and clean
The longer you live in a place, the easier it is to overlook all the little things that need work. One of the best things you can do is to walk around each room in your home and make a note of all the imperfections. The more that you can scratch of the list the better.
Dirty homes are not appealing to buyers so it may be worth the money to hire some professionals for a deep clean; especially if you have children or pets.
Once the worst is taken care of, make sure that you tidy up before every viewing.
Light and airy
Make sure that your home is well lit and ventilated (see below) during each viewing. Simple things like pruning obstructive plants, cleaning windows, removing heavy curtains and swapping lightshades and strategically placed mirrors can all make a huge difference.
Get the right smells
If you have pets or are a smoker, then this could be difficult but remember that first impressions count. If the purchaser is hit by an unpleasant smell when they first enter your house then it will really count against you.
Make sure that windows are opened before the viewing. If you smoke, ensure that you smoke outdoors during the entire process and that pets aren’t present during the viewing.
Also think carefully about cooking, damp, blocked drains, full bins. However, pleasant smells such as coffee and freshly baked bread are rumoured to help.
If you require any advise prior to selling your property please feel free to contact on of our Estate Agents Offices in Gloucester for a no obligation valuation and market appraisal.
