8. Be Your Own House Doctor
8. Be Your Own House Doctor (Image 8 of 10)
When all the hard work is done, here comes the fun part. You can now make sure your property is irresistible to buyers. With a few considerations to ensure you don't get too carried away and overspend on frivolities, here's how:
1. Give the property a really good clean and ensure it's free of clutter. Remember you are not selling your home or your own style. Paint in neutral colours only and fit neutral-coloured flooring. This helps buyers envisage their possessions in your property.
2. First impressions count, so the front garden needs to be immaculate, the front door should be freshly painted and any bins hidden away. Don't park your car in front of the house or in the driveway. Not only will it block buyers' view of the property, but an empty driveway will enable them to see how much space there is for parking.
3. Make sure that every room has a clear function. Bedrooms need to look like bedrooms (people can always decide to turn one into a study later if they want to), kitchen-diners always need a table and chairs, and a second living room should be turned back into a dining room. Add enough furniture to show what the purpose of each room is, but don't fill it with too much stuff so that it dominates the space.
4. Dress the rooms with care. Bring in furniture and props to make it feel lived in, but avoid over-styling and lots of trinkets - it's a waste of money and might put off buyers. You need to suggest how they might live in the property, nothing more. Bedrooms should be dressed with crisp, white, bed linen; bathrooms, with fluffy towels; and kitchens just need something simple, such as a bowl of fresh fruit or a few pots of herbs on a window ledge.
5. You don't have to buy lots of furniture to stage your property for sale. Ask friends and family for spare pieces you can borrow. You can buy a few bits if you think they might come in handy later, but don't buy a load of old tat from second-hand shops - you need to show off attractive and robust furniture so, if all else fails, hire some.
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