Presenting your property for sale; it’s all about creating a positive first impression.
There are several important considerations likely to influence your ultimate selling price.
Once you have decided on an agent, discussed pricing and agreed on promotional and marketing strategy; it’s important to make sure your property looks its best from the moment it goes on the market.
When it comes to presenting your property for sale, first impressions create a lasting impression.
Your property is more than likely going to be just one on a long list of properties a buyer will see, so it’s crucial that they see it in the best possible light.
You want to attract buyers and the more desirable your property appears, the better your potential sale price is likely to be.
It’s about the feeling a potential buyer gets when they view your property for the first time – online or in person – that can be the difference between a first, second or third inspection, making an offer when the time comes, or bypassing it and searching elsewhere.
Professional Photography
Buyers will more than likely learn about the property via an online search, so it’s critical that the property is presented well in the photos attached to the listing.
Good photography will help present your property at its best and work to attract buyers to your property.
Clean, Tidy, Well-Maintained
It almost goes without saying, giving the property a big tidy-up – inside and out – will go a long way to making a good first impression.
Both house and garden should be clean and tidy. Few things can turn a buyer off quicker than a dirty house!
This includes everything from dusting shelves, buffing bench tops to steam-cleaning carpets and grout in bathrooms.
Clear away any clutter that has accumulated in living spaces to show off the space better. Decluttering helps depersonalize, creates space and makes it more inviting to buyers.
Similarly, everything should be in good working order. Just like a used car, a property that appears well-cared for is more valuable than one that has been run down.
It’s worth getting any small items fixed before sale.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Scent
It’s important to understand that some buyers, buy with their nose.
Kitchen odours can be an issue, so consider refraining from cooking fried food, fish, or particularly smelly dishes like curries that use pungent spices while the property is on the market.
The same considerations apply to smokers: remove all ashtrays, clean all curtains and upholstery; and consider smoking outdoors while your home is on the market.
Second to the kitchen, it’s suggested the smelliest room in the house can be the living area because that room typically has the most fabric, and that’s where the odours are absorbed.
You may not notice it anymore and best to ensure the place is well aired out before any inspections; especially if there’s a family pet.
A strategically-placed diffuser or scented candle can also go a long way.
Be Mindful of Pets
Speaking of pets, some owners mistakenly believe that their love for their furry friend is universal.
Sadly this isn’t always the case.
There’s a significant number of people who don’t share in a love of animals or pets.
It’s therefore suggested to remove all traces of your pets while inspections are happening.
Consider taking pets for a walk/drive or leaving pets with friends so they’re not around when the house is being shown to prospective buyers.
It’s also important to think about hiding away things such as dog dishes, cat litter boxes, etc as these can immediately turn some buyers off.
Different Tastes & Interiors
Not everyone’s style and decoration tastes are the same; and how we decorate to live and how we decorate to sell can be entirely different.
For this reason, it’s often safer to de-personalise and assume a more neutral presentation style for inspections and open homes.
Removing things like family photos and personal items from each room can be worth considering while your house is on the market.
When buyers inspect a property they’re interested in living in, they tend to look at it from the perspective of how it fits their circumstances and lifestyle needs.
Anything that makes the house obviously yours can be distracting and not necessarily as ‘homey’ as you may have intended it to be.
It’s important to present your property in a way that gives people every chance to imagine how the home would work for them, if they were living in it.
To re-cap, here are our top tips on how to present your property for sale:
- Pavement appeal: Make sure the front of your property looks appealing and inviting with a pruned, weed-free garden and some attractive pot plants.
- Clean and bright: Before inspections, give your property a once-over ensuring that windows are clean inside and out – it’s surprising how much difference it makes to the light.
- Cut the clutter: You want the prospective buyer to be able to imagine their own belongings in the property, so de-clutter to keep things tidy. Less clutter will also help make rooms appear larger.
- Fix it: From leaking taps to a broken light globe, make sure the minor repairs are taken care of. A lick of paint will freshen scuffs and scrapes in the paint and woodwork. Basic maintenance work will help to ensure buyers don’t find any faults.
- Freshen up: Get rid of smoke or pet odours. Open the windows, bake or brew some fresh coffee and brighten the place up with some indoor plants and fresh flowers which help to create a relaxed and homely feel.
- Lighten up: Increase the sense of space with mirrors and lights and leave all internal doors open.
- Pets: Always clean and tidy up after your pets; and remove them during inspection times.
- Climate Control: Ensure buyer comfort by preparing your home to suit the temperature of the day. If it’s cold, light fires and turn on heating. If it’s hot, turn on fans and cooling systems.