A buyer is not looking for a house, or flat they are looking for a home to make theirs. They want to be able to see themselves lying in bed on a Sunday morning with a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice and their kids playing in the garden outside. They want to imagine themselves kicking back on the sofa on a Monday evening or having friends over for supper.
Preparing Your House For Sale
First impressions matter and this is never truer than when selling your home. From the moment a potential buyer walks to the front door, to them checking the under stairs storage, your property should be seen in its best light.
Before any viewings take place take a quick look down the list below, it may seem like a lot of work but remember that buyers can be a fickle bunch. If you don’t have the time and would rather have someone quote for some bits and pieces head across to here
Interior
Whilst going to the lengths of baking a fresh loaf of homemade bread is going one step too far there is lot that can be done to make your home stand out from the crowd. A really good de-clutter and tidy up should not be underestimated, a thin coat of dust will dull any surface but a quick wipe over and it will make a world of difference. So from your kitchen work top to the skirting running up the stairs make sure every surface is gleaming. Don’t forget any carpets, whilst a quick Hoover will remove any visible dirt they will be filled with dust so go over them a few times to bring them back to life.
Top of the list of criteria for nearly every prospective buyer is ‘bright and spacious’. Now this is London so spacious isn’t going to be possible in every case but any home can look bright and, in most cases, bright homes feel spacious. Up rate any energy saving bulbs to those with the wattage of a collapsed sun, tie back your curtains and cut back any foliage from windows. Along with your newly polished surfaces this should have your property looking almost as good as new.
Unless you are as organised as a Swiss air traffic controller you are likely to have list of a few odd jobs that you haven’t yet got round to or have been putting off indefinitely. Do them! A dripping tap, creaking hinge or stained wall give the wrong impression and just make it that little harder for the buyer to imagine their dream home.
A Few Pointers
- Replace energy saving bulbs with higher wattage instant brightness bulbs
- Don’t leave washing up in the sink or laundry drying throughout the house
- Put clean towels in the bathrooms
- Replace washers on dripping taps
- Oil squeaky doors
- Repaint any historical damp/water stains and fill cracks
- Polish taps and mirrors
- Dust all surfaces, TVs, window sills
- Remove any junk mail
- Bleach any tile grout, if necessary, re-grout/silicone
- Eradicate odours – Open the windows and light scented candles
- Open Curtains
Exterior
If you are lucky enough to have a bit of outside space in London today then don’t let your prized asset be the thing that lets your property down. A freshly mown lawn looks good in everyone’s eyes and will immediately give your home a premier look. Remember that even on the darkest day in winter, buyers will want to look at the garden and imagine a warm summer’s day BBQ with friends so don’t let a neglected lawn, children’s toys scattered around or broken garden furniture snap them back to reality.
A Few Pointers
- Mow the lawn
- Clean gutters
- Repaint window frames
- Repaint the front door
- Clear garden path
- Clear any Ivy & Weeds
- De-clutter/ store seasonal furniture etc
We would be happy to visit your property and advise you on areas to improve/ repair prior to going to market, as an outsider we can give a fresh perspective and even arrange for our ‘property improvement’ team to quote for any works.
Higher Rent Through AirBnB?
We can also be your Airbnb host taking the stress out of day-to-day process of Airbnb guests. This can include all contact with guests prior to move in and meeting and greeting on the day; as well as preparing your property, delivering clean laundry, arranging cleaning, and presenting the home as a hotel!
Our Services
Our services include Short Lets, Property Management, Keyholding, Portfolio Landlords, Commercial Property, Property Improvement and Block & Freehold Management.
