GET YOUR HOUSE ‘ON THE MARKET’ READY...

The Homeowners Alliance champions the interests of Britain’s homeowners and aspiring homeowners, providing unbiased and practical advice as well as services you can trust whether you are buying, selling or owning your home. For more visit www.hoa.org.uk

PREPARING your home for viewers, or “staging” as it’s called, is important. It will not only ensure your property is sold faster, but can potentially add thousands of pounds to its value

Declutter – but don’t depersonalise Get rid of all the excess stuff that has accumulated in every nook and cranny. Put it in storage, shove it in the eaves, or pass it on to a friend if you have to. People have to be able to picture what the property would look like if they were living there so make it easy for them to see all the fantastic living space you’re offering them Don’t make it look like a generic hotel; leave some personality. Apart from anything else it gives unimaginative buyers suggestions as to what they might do People are often buying into a lifestyle as much as a property. Show them the attractive side of your lifestyle Consider removing any bulky furniture that makes the room feel small and replacing it with smaller furniture A fresh lick of paint Giving your walls a fresh lick of neutral paint will make your home seem lighter and bigger It will enable the viewers to more easily imagine how they would adapt the rooms to their needs It will be easier for the buyers to move in and use the rooms immediately than if the walls were still bright purple or lime green Create a good first impression – give the front door a new coat of brightly coloured paint, or pop some pretty flowers in the hallway Fix and clean Make any minor repairs necessary – holes in walls, broken door knobs, cracked tiles, torn or threadbare carpets. Many buyers want to move in without making changes, so allow for this Clean everything until it sparkles. Get rid of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax wooden floors, get rid of all odours, hang up fresh towels. This will make the place more appealing and allow viewers to imagine living there Tidy up the garden: cut bushes back, clean the patio and furniture of lichen and dirt, and cut the grass. While this doesn’t add much value to your home it makes it more likely to sell as people visualise themselves using the garden Update the kitchen The kitchen is the most valuable room in a house. It is worth the most per square foot and can make the difference when buyers are unsure Consider refacing your kitchen cabinets. This is much cheaper than installing new cabinetry and often as effective Upgrading kitchen counter tops is expensive, but can add serious value Declutter the surfaces and just leave a bowl of fruit out. Take out any bulky appliances Consider upgrading the plumbing fixtures and white goods, but keep in mind that while that could make your property sell faster, you will be unlikely to recoup their full value Light and airy Wall mirrors make a room look much bigger and lighter. Consider putting some up, especially in smaller rooms or hallways Clean windows inside and out, and replace any broken light bulbs. Making the place feel light and airy makes rooms feel bigger and the property more attractive Ensure you switch lamps on in any dark corners Putting a soft lamp in the bathroom can create a warm glow Light a fire If it’s a cold evening, or even chilly day, light your fire. Consider burning some pinecones for the delicious smell. This will make your home feel warm and inviting. If you don’t have a fire then ensure the fireplace is clean Make it look pretty Make sure the windows are properly dressed with blinds or curtains as naked windows make a place feel impersonal and run down. Buy some cheap ones if necessary Plants and flowers bring colour, life and light to a room and also smell wonderful. So does that fruit bowl on your kitchen counter Get the right smells Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Don’t just cover them up, fix the source of the smell. Clear drains, wash bins, open windows, air the kitchen from old cooking smells, get rid of furniture that is embedded with cigarette smoke, and wash any grimy bed sheets If you are a smoker, place bowls of vinegar around the house and leave out for three days. Though the vinegar will smell it will disappear quickly when you open the windows taking a most of the stale cigarette smell out with it Equally, good smells can make a property feel like an attractive home. While it might be impractical to bake fresh bread, cakes or brownies for every viewer that visits your home, you could perhaps brew some fresh coffee Showing the property If you’ve chosen a good estate agent let them show the property. It’s their job to know what things to say, what to highlight and what to downplay They are also effective at answering those tricky questions you might feel compelled to spill the beans about.