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Selling up and moving house can be one of the most stressful things imaginable. But preparing your property for sale is essential if you want to make that all-important great first impression to potential buyers. Forget baking bread and brewing coffee - follow a few of these tips and viewers will be beating the door down to take a peek.
First impressions have never counted more, so you need to spend time thinking about what impression the outside of your property makes - has it got curb appeal? Your messy hedges or uneven paving stones could lose you a sale before you even invite viewers inside. Take a moment to emotionally distance yourself from your surroundings and be critical.
Before your viewings begin, it's definitely worth having a quick wander down your road and look at your house next to your neighbours' properties. Could your window frames or facade do with a quick lick of paint to get them up to scratch? Do you need to re-lay a wonky paving stone or two? Or spruce up your front door?
Half an hour before the viewers are due, nip 20 metres down the road from your house and scoop up any litter. Unsightly rubbish isn't a welcome greeting. Spend a morning tidying the front garden. A once-over with the lawn mower and a squirt of weedkiller can work miracles. A little work now could really pay off in the long run.
Many potential buyers will pay particular attention to the kitchen - a good selling point for any house. It goes without saying that a dirty kitchen is a big no-no, but when your kitchen is spotless, what else can you do to make it appealing?
Uncluttered surfaces give the illusion of space in a small kitchen - put jars and bottles away in cupboards and clear as much room as possible. Make sure none of your appliances are running when viewers are being shown around - the buzz of the washing machine or whir of the dishwasher isn't the most inviting sound. You don't need to spend a fortune on a new fitted kitchen just to impress - save the money for your new house. New stylish cupboard handles are cheap and easy to fit, and can bring your kitchen up to date. Give any new bits and bobs an airing before you move. If you have splashed out on a shiny new kettle, replace that old one before you move and show your kitchen in its best light.
Remember when preparing your property for sale that the living area is where the new owners will spend most of their time together, so it is vital you make the right impression. However much you love your pet, dogs and cats should be absent while your house is being viewed. And freshen up each room with room sprays and fragrances or open windows for a blast of fresh air.
If your walls and cabinets are adorned with personal photos of you and your family, try replacing a few with more neutral snaps, perhaps of places rather than people. The viewer needs to be able to picture him or herself living here and pictures of you all around the house may be a distraction. Natural light will give a feeling of space and airiness. Draw back curtains and make the living areas as light as possible.
Your bathroom and bedrooms are the most personal rooms in the house. Potential buyers don't want to see clumps of hair in the plug hole and underwear scattered everywhere. Vanity is the key for these two rooms, when preparing your property for sale make sure the bathroom looks clean and fresh with the mirror and tiles sparkling and no grimy rim around the bath tub or loo. Invest in a couple of expensive looking soaps and make a gleaming impression. A small potted plant can bring colour and life to a bland looking bathroom. Make bedrooms welcoming, clothes should be away and carpets fluffy and spotless; bed clothes should be clean and matching and don't forget that cupboards and wardrobes can hide a host of sins.
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