to wonder what I can do

[fugglinfuggler]

To make my home more attractive to buyers?
That's it. I see sold signs going up but ours has been on the market ages. Any ideas?

Oooh you might have to put some pictures on your profile

When we were selling ours we de-cluttered totally, boxed everything up and stuck it in the PILs garage so that on our floating shelves for example we had three worthy books and a scented candle, rather than twenty seven Danielle Steele novels, two mugs, a cat I made out of clay when I was 12 and an odd sock. IYSWIM.

If we were selling now I'd put a load of DS's toys in the loft prior to viewings so that it didn't look like we were bursting out of here (which we are).

Also, any little odd jobs like bits of missing skirting board/smudges on your walls - sort them out because they can be off-putting even if they're not big issues.

Allegedly you get par cooked bread thingies and whack them in the oven just before buyers turning up.

The wafting smell creates homeliness. Apparently.

Ditto coffee and vanilla.

Make the house as bland as possible. People need to be able to visualise their crap in your house. No pet smells, weird cooking smells, or smoke. That weird thing Aunty Nibbs got from Mexico may be your taste but Mr and Mrs Bland may not like it.

If I looked round a house that smelt of coffee and bread I would assume they were trying to hide something.

I'm going with the 'get rid of everything not nailed down and hide child' approach myself
Also colouring in my bathroom with a grout whitener pen and buying new towels/kitchen accessories/bedroom rug to make it look more out together IYSWIM.

Bugger. *put together

Basically, bland, clean, uncluttered and no scruffy bits. Make each room look like it has a purpose.

Serious house buyers look past 'crap' - otherwise I would never have bought a house with raspberry veneered kitchen units, a sunshine yellow bathroom suite and bright red indoor window sills.

DH finds it impossible to see past crap, or bad decor. He is a nightmare to househunt with. He's an artist by profession so you'd think he could imagine what it has the potential to look like - but he just can't. Whenever we need to sell I always dress the place with weirdos discerning people like him in mind.

I'm obviously not your average buyer because I prefer to see a house bursting at the seams as I know that it will fit all our crap in too.

When we bought this stupidly small house there was kids bikes and all sorts of plastic tat in it, therefore I considered it as being suitable as a family home if it had been decluttered I would have seen it for what it really is suitable for - a starter home.

Well I have heard it said that a house will sell within the first minute or so.... Therefore, keep the front neat and tidy, grass cut and colourful border and tubs... keep the hall tidy and give an air of spaciousness, make sure your home is as tidy and uncluttered as possible. Apart from that there isnt a lot you can do. If they want a big kitchen and yours is small... well, blame the agent!

I have bought houses before that were quite unsuitable, in that the whole of the downstairs was painted orange.... but they have all had a good 'feel' about them, a nice atmosphere. Good luck. Your buyer is out there, it is just a matter of time :)

People look for homes on the basis of: price, area and size, not necessarily in that order.

Assuming your house meets those demands, all you can do is make it as pleasing as possible, clean, tidy, uncluttered! :)

Is your agent doing a good job for you? Have you had many viewings? If not then can you change agents (I only ask as this has recently happened to a friend of mine).

I can only agree with what others have said - every room has a purpose, not too many personal photo's etc around.

Clean linen on tables/bedding etc

Good luck

Also - and i hate to say it - but is your house reasonably priced for your area?

In my experience of buying/selling (and I'm still addicted to right move) houses don't sell because sellers are over optimistic with their prices. Houses will sell if they are priced accordingly and you are willing to take offers.

Also Make sure you are marketing your property properly. Declutter, clean, mend broken bits. Then make sure the pictures show it in the best light- I've seen some shocking pics which make houses look truly manky/small/dark.

Best of luck. MSE has some good advise on house selling too.

Thanks all. I believe it is priced well. It's a four bed detached (by about an inch) cottage and it's up for the same price as the only other 4 bed in the area which is a terraced property. It's been decluttered and neutralised and just reduced to the minimum we can afford. You would not be able to find another property this size in this area for this price. We are going to take some of our own photographs and email to the agent as I don't think their's are the best.

When you take your pictures, make sure all the loo lids are down and theres no dishes drying on the sink, the bathroom isn't steamed up and the beds are made.
We got rid of some furniture to make the rooms look bigger when we sold last.
We are getting ready to sell again, not the best time obviously. But we have been decluttering like crazy. We sold off the boys bunk beds and bedroom furniture (not taking it tot he next place anyway they have moved out) and Dh has painted their room a neutral colour and also the kids bathroom that was turquoise is now cream. Out side he has trimmed and cleaned up the garden, cleared out the driveway and boat is up for sale before the house.