Presenting property for sale

Regardless of how the market is performing, sellers simply can’t afford to rest on their laurels when it comes to presenting their homes for sale. Thanks in no small part to a decade or so of television programmes dedicated to home improvements and real estate, buyers are generally a canny bunch, who want the best possible home for their property buying dollar.

So, how to impress such a crowd, especially when potential viewers are likely to have such different tastes? Obviously you can’t please everyone but there are some basic steps you can take to ensure that your property both stands out from the crowd and pleases the crowds.

1. Tidiness and cleanliness ought to go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook these basic principles. If your property is tenanted, your control over the situation is slightly more limited. Try arranging for a cleaner to attend to the property, at your expense, 2-3 times a week, so that they do not feel that the onus of making the property look appealing falls to them.
2. Attend to any small repairs that you may have been letting slide until now. Leaking taps, damp patches, loose floorboards – all of these can detract from the look of your property.
3. Remember that you are selling a projected lifestyle as well as a home. Homebuyers are, generally speaking, aspirational – they are looking to move to improve their circumstances – so give them something to yearn for. A few well-chosen home accessories - and these might be as simple as an upmarket candle, luxe bathroom toiletries or gleaming tableware – can instantly create a feeling of desirability.
4. The smell of baking bread and freshly brewed coffee is, as we all know, a vendor’s step too far – but that’s not to diminish the importance of a home that smells good. Open windows and let the fresh air circulate before a viewing, and banish your pets from indoors. Remember, even if you can’t pick up on their lingering scent, a newcomer will be able to – so ask a friend or neighbour for their honest olfactory opinion.
5. A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive facelift for your home, and one that involves minimal disruption. Go neutral so as to create a broad appeal and blank canvas for buyers to imagine their own choice of living room furniture and so on against.
6. Stage key rooms and use props so that buyers can more easily imagine themselves living there. Remember that many people find it difficult to visualize ways to make space work, especially when they are being rushed though on a viewing (which, let’s face it, rarely lasts long). You may use your dining room as a games room and eat from your lap as you watch TV, but it’s useful to get your hands on a table and chairs for the duration of marketing so that buyers can get a sense of the room serving its intended purpose.
7. First impressions count. Keep your front garden, path and entry hall as appealing and welcoming as possible.