You only get one chance to make a good first impression, as the saying goes. If you’re putting your property on the market, you want to make as many good first impressions as you can because one of them will lead to an offer!
Make sure your front door is inviting
Your front door is the first thing viewers will see when they come along, so make sure it’s got fresh paint, polished brass, a clean porch, a working doorbell and neat flowers.
How does it smell?
Use a subtle scent in the home by baking, making fresh coffee or using essential oils in a diffuser. Don’t, however, blast people with artificial sprays and plug-ins.
Use enough light
Good lighting makes the difference between poky and dingy and cosy and airy. You don’t need to make the place look like an operating theatre, but add an extra lamp, put in brighter bulbs, pull the curtains and clean the windows.
Speaking of cleaning…
You’re already on top of this, of course, but have you gone deep enough? Even if you’re cleaning before every viewing, if there’s still limescale here and there, a touch of mould or your light switch plates have fingerprints on them, people will see this subliminally.
Bring the outside in
A bit of greenery can work wonders to freshen up a room or a hallway. You can use cut flowers or planters to change the look and feel of the space.
De-clutter
It’s not so much as de-cluttering as de-personalising. Pare back your belongings to a minimum and don’t have anything on display that looks messy, bitty or just “in the way”.
Make sure everything works
Check the toilets all flush without a problem, the taps don’t leak, every light works and the water is hot.
Imagine you’re the buyer
If you were doing the viewing, what would you notice? If you spot something you don’t like, would you overlook it or ask for small reduction? If there’s enough time to sort the issue out, don’t waste time.
Make a homely impression
Most buyers plan to make your home their home, so help them to imagine it as a welcoming space, inside and out, from the garden path to the bathroom.
