So you’ve decided to put your house on the market? Preparing your house for sale needn’t be a difficult task; the main aspect you need to concentrate on is not how you see your home but how others will. You need to try and be as objective as you can when assessing your own property – it may even be worth asking a friend to come and help you assess your property. This will help you get an honest assessment of your home.

Are there any faults or signs of damage in (or outside) your property that you haven’t had time to see to? Small imperfections that you may be used to could turn away buyers from your property. You need to decide how much work you want to do your house to improve it – firstly, you need to work out whether the renovation costs will be worth it. If your property needs a substantial amount of work you’ll get less money for it but if you make a few amendments you could increase your house price – making the renovation work total value for money.

Detaching yourself away from your home can be difficult but you need to get into a buyer’s frame of mind. Ensure your home shows no signs of dampness; mould and mildew in the bathroom, or on windowsills need to be cleaned – everything needs to be spotless. A good spring clean will work wonders for selling your property. It may even be worth hiring in professional cleaners for sparkling kitchens and bathrooms.

People often forget the exterior of the house, which is extremely important – it’s the first part of the property buyers will see. Make your garden attractive; mow the lawn or clean the patio and add a few hanging baskets or plant pots – little touches like this will work wonders for your property. Also consider your next door neighbour’s exterior, does it look tidy and well-kept? If there are old sofas or overgrown grass next door then this will definitely put off potential buyers. You could offer to cut the neighbour’s grass for them, or help them tidy their garden – just make sure you don’t cause offensive!

To prepare your house for a viewing estate agents advise sellers to ‘depersonalise’. In other words, this means removing all personal bits and putting them into storage. If you remove your photographs and clear away a few old books then you’re clearing space and allowing the buyer to imagine the house how they want it be. If your house is cluttered, it may be necessary to remove pieces of furniture to make the rooms look more spacious. Also ensure there is as much light getting in the rooms as possible, replace dark for light coloured curtains or blinds.

Lastly, remember that first impressions count! Make sure everywhere looks presentable, cleanliness is vital. A few simple house accessories like scented candles or flowers on the windowsill will make a lasting impact on your buyer – this will show your buyer you have pride in your home and you have looked after it.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour, estate agents Manchester.

Category: Advice
Keywords: house selling, renovations, property for sale, property to buy