Present2Sell - Devon Today Sep 2007
Setting a stage for selling your home
The jury is still out on the likely impact of Home Information Packs, now required for all 4 bedroom houses, but experts agree that mortgage rate hikes are causing the property market to flatten.
Canny sellers are unconcerned though, they know how to add value to their property by making it desirably distinctive, and without it costing the earth.
Ideally, viewings allow buyers to imagine themselves and their lifestyles in that space. Make it easy for them by removing all your overtly personal items. Put excess furniture, art work, books, knick-knacks etc in storage to create more space.
It's surprising what can be achieved with a good clean - consider using a professional company to clean not only windows, window sills, floors but also sofas and window dressings and the insides of cupboards (people will look!), and outside, fascias and guttering. The next minimum requirement is to complete all unfinished DIY jobs. This work will remove the more obvious barriers to purchase that buyers will have, and lays a good foundation for effective property presention.
If you're selling a second or empty property, you probably already know how hard it is to create interesting shots of it, compared to a lived-in property. It's a straightforward matter to buy or rent enough furniture and accessories to convey the purpose of each room and the amount of space available. The result? As illustrated, a much more inviting, informing photograph.
The next step is to make the space welcoming and interesting - think more "ah" factor than "wow" factor. Too many properties on the market these days suffer from "blanding" and this destroys the spirit of a place, the very thing people are looking for when they come into your home with the thought of possibly buying it. Don't be afraid to use colour. All you have to do is relate it to colour that's already there; green lawn, blue water, red brick etc.
Colours also work well when related to the room's use - in bedrooms, try colours that are restful and not too intense - greens, creams and lavenders are good; in more sociable spaces, use livelier colours.
There's no need to hide everything away either. A collection of books, pictures or objects, arranged in a harmonious context can bring great charm to a room. It's important to a create a focal point for buyers, because it gives them a sort of visual safety net while the rest of the room can be absorbed and can also lead the eye away from unsightly views or awkward corners.
Conversely, draw attention to the parts of the property that made you love it when you first saw it, by ensuring plenty of uncluttered visual space around these.
