Hands up if you like to have a cheeky little look on Rightmove when you find yourself with a spare five minutes? My hand is raised – clearly not because we’re looking to move as we just moved house a year ago, but basically because I’m a bit nosey! To be fair, it’s also my job – I work in an estate agent as an administrator so I’m on property websites a lot, checking that our properties are looking good online and because I’m interested in seeing what’s on the market.
From my own experience at work, I can tell you that everyone wants to move right now! I think it’s a combination of people realising during lockdown that their home just doesn’t work for them anymore, and of course the current stamp duty incentive is a huge driving factor too.
At the moment, a lot of properties are selling before we’ve even made them live. So what makes a house ‘hot’? Some factors you can’t control of course, like location or the size of the garden. But if you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, here are a few suggestions on how you can present your house in the best possible way.
Tidy the front of the house
First impressions, as always in life, are so important. We tend to focus our efforts more on the rear garden because they’re bigger but remember that the front garden is the first thing prospective buyers will see. Make sure it’s tidy, clear of weeds and is welcoming.
Does the front of your house look clean and presentable? Clean the windows and sills, vacuum your doormat and don’t forget to make sure your front door is clean and shiny too.
Declutter
If toys are taking over the house, I strongly recommend you channel your inner Marie Kondo and invest a good few hours decluttering your home. Prospective buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in the house and that is much harder to do when they are surrounded by piles of your stuff.
Work through each room deciding what you want to keep, chuck or donate. Remember that this process will save you precious time and money later when you come to move, as you’ll only be moving things you actually want to keep.
Do a mini spring clean
Now you’ve decluttered, it’s time to get the Marigolds on and give the house a good clean. This should be an easier job now that you’ve already decluttered. Work from the top of the house to the bottom and tick off each job as you go.
While cleaning, fling open the windows and let in that fresh air. If you have pets, this is particularly important as strong animal smells can be off-putting for some.
Spend time on cleaning your floors. Your choice of flooring will be mentioned in your property particulars when you list your house, which shows how important it is.
Stunning wood floors, for example, are a huge selling point in a house. They are also a much more family-friendly choice than carpets, which stain easily.
If you’re lucky enough to have solid wood floors, make sure you show them off as they can add real character to your home. Brush or sweep regularly to get rid of any bits and then clean with special wood cleaner to keep it looking its best. Wood floors can last a lifetime if looked after properly.
Carpets will need a thorough vacuum and try to get rid of any noticeable stains.
Potential buyers will always look at the state of your floors so ensure they look their best before any viewings.
Spruce up the garden
Since lockdown, everybody wants a house with a decent garden. So if your home has one, it’s time to give it a bit of a tlc.
Don’t worry, I’m not talking a Garden Rescue style makeover…just take care of the basics.
Mow the lawn, weed the flower beds, tidy away the garden toys, clean the garden furniture. Make sure potential buyers can clearly see the size of the garden and how the space could be used.
Consider basic staging
Obviously there probably isn’t sufficient time or money to make big changes to the layout of your home and that isn’t what is needed. Just make sure that each space in your house has an obvious function.
You may have an area downstairs that isn’t really used for anything – why not make it into a dining area, playroom or home office – whatever works best for the layout of your house and is more likely to appeal to your buyers.
And don’t forget those little finishing touches to make your house more homely. Scented candles, fruit bowls and fresh flowers can work wonders.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Flooring365. All words and opinions are my own.