10 MOST important things you should do,
to Prepare Your House for a Viewing!
Selling your property can be a stressful process, but preparing your
home for a viewing doesn’t have to be! Here at Hobbs Property
Agents, we understand it can be nerve-wracking to have strangers
evaluating your home, so we have created our top 10 easy tips to
prepare your home so it's looking its absolute best on the viewing day.
Michael Hobbs Managing Director of Hobbs Property Agents says
“Making First impressions count”
Making that entrance.
Which is why making your entrance hall appealing, is so important when
preparing for a viewing. Make sure your hall or hall way is clear to walk
through, decorated simply we believe (neutral colours work best) and
free from clutter (like coats and shoes).
Make the welcome of your home memorable.
Speaking of first impressions, it's important not just to think about the
look of your home when a potential buyer walks in, but also how it could
make them feel. How does your home smell? Think about using an
essential oil diffuser for a fresh and welcoming scent. Flowers can make
a neutral room look inviting and friendly, and small touches like freshly
washed towels and a cosy throw or pillows can make such a big
difference. In the winter months, if you have an open fire, then light it –
warm and cosy is very important!
Think like a potential property viewer.
At Hobbs Property Agents, we see this all the time so It is very easy to
become blind to what your own home looks like, you see it day in day
out. But to really prepare your home for a viewing, you must try to see it
with neutral eyes, the way a potential buyer would see it.
The first thing you must do is, what catches your attention (the good and
the bad!)? What are your eyes naturally drawn to? Which rooms do you
find yourself gravitating towards? Chances are, viewers will do the
same, so try to use this knowledge to your advantage by making sure
the rooms and spaces will be most looked at, get the most attention
before the viewing.
Make the most of natural light in your home.
Everyone loves a home with natural light, so make the most of whatever
light you have available to you. Open all of the curtains and blinds (and
speaking of window dressings, lighter colour fabrics make a room look
brighter), and use mirrors to amplify the natural light that you have
available.
If your home isn't flooded with sunlight, make sure all the lights are on
before the viewing so your home doesn't look to dark.
De-clutter
One of our top tips at Hobbs Property Agents is to use your own
common sense to make your home look tidy when you prepare your
house for a viewing, but potential buyers want to see your house as a
blank canvas on which to add their own flair, so a deep de-clutter is
recommended for the biggest impact.
Donate unused items and clothing; try selling unwanted sporting gear or
gadgets. Generally get rid of those items that tend to accumulate over
the years without you realising.
Don't just think of de-cluttering in terms of cupboards and storage, think
about spaces like your kitchen worktops: the less clutter, the bigger the
worktop space will look.
Having well-organised cupboards and rooms will make your whole home
look much more appealing.
Get a pet sitter
Michael Hobbs from Hobbs Property Agents also says “Make sure your
home is pet free on the day of the viewing – you don't want to put off a
potential buyers who are afraid of dogs, or someone who's allergic to
cats!
Maximise your space as best you can
You don't have to have a lot of space to make your home look roomy.
Stay clear of dark coloured walls and curtains, use mirrors and lamps to
create more light and depth, and pull furniture (such as sofas) away from
the wall to make the room look more spacious.
What's behind those closed doors?
Don't just hide clutter behind closed doors; potential buyers might open
wardrobes, storage cupboards and even your fridge! Take some time to
restore order to those forgotten spaces behind closed doors when you
prepare your house for a viewing.
Don't forget the exterior of your property
It can be easy to forget the outside of your house in the race to get
everything inside in perfect order, but the exterior is what a potential
buyer will see before they even step through your front door.
Keep gardens neat, add some welcoming flowers near the entryway,
clean your windows and doors and make sure everything looks as tidy
on the outside as it does within.
Make simple upgrades, can change everything!
Are their nagging little projects you haven't had time to get done over
the years? Now is the time to replace light bulbs, grease squeaky doors,
replace tired fixtures and upgrade your doorknobs. The smallest of
details can make the biggest impact, so don't underestimate the power
of a tiny DIY job when you're preparing your home for a viewing!
Spending a small budget of between £500-£1000 can make a huge
difference to how your property will look to those buyers!
Of course, at Hobbs Property Agents we will be able to advise the best
ways for you to enhance your space, but these should get you started
with little effort or just a small investment.
