To ask for tips on how to make our home more attractive to viewers?

[AngeloMysterioso]

We’ve had such a run of awful luck with trying to sell our home and we really need this next one to go well…

Home is a 2 bed ground floor flat, occupied by me, DH, and three DSs aged 4, 2 and 4 months. Viewer is a single woman, that’s all we know.

We’re trying to tidy and declutter like mad but there’s no way to hide the fact that a family lives here- the toy box and play mat and bedside crib will have to stay where they are for example- but what can I do to make it more appealing? I’m going to get some fresh flowers, maybe put some candles around the bath and get some nice smelling home fragrance… any other tips or ideas?

Reduce the price?

I wouldn’t worry about candles and flowers tbh.
As long as there isn’t a whole load of clutter, and the place is clean and tidy, it will be fine.

minimise ‘stuff’. We used to put kids’ stuff from the house into the car!

It just needs to be clean and tidy and smell nice. No need to add candles etc.

Wouldn’t bother with the ‘touches’.

I don’t think there’s any problem in having a toy mat in a child’s room, for example.

Declutter, clean and tidy will be fine.

What’s the kerb appeal like? Are there overflowing bins outside? Weeds in pavements etc? If so, maybe tidy these up also.

I'd prefer a clean house over a tidy house. Even small things like crumbs on the counter or dishes in the sink can put people off.

Don't waste money on superficial shit, you're just cluttering your house more than it already is.

You can emphasize the floor space by pointing at the ceiling as that's the same size as the floor space once everything has been removed.

Has your estate agent not contacted the previous viewers for feedback op?

I didn’t buy houses I viewed because:

Price too high
Bedrooms too small
Odd heating system
Weird owner
Noise next to motorway
Cracks in ceiling
Shit parking

Not because there was clutter.

No touches needed
Clear the floors of trip hazards(!) and put as many toys away as you can
Maybe bigger things like high chair etc in car boot( or ask a neighbour)
The viewer will look at the potential for her, and knows it's occupied.
Quick vacuum and clear counter tops and wipe down
From someone who bought a tiny flat from a couple with a baby!

White bed linen. White hand towels. Kitchen worktops should be clear.

I think you want to minimise the obvious feeling that you’ve outgrown the place. Don’t confront a potential buyer with the future problems they may/may not have.

What are your future plans, upsizing? Do you have any friends or family nearby that you can begin to box up and store a lot of the accumulated stuff that goes with being a family? Think of it as getting a head start on the moving process.

Whats the storage like in the flat?

The main thing a buyer is looking at is the location and type of property, and if you’ve maintained it well. So things like a really clean fresh bathroom, no signs of mould or damp anywhere. Clean, uncluttered kitchen. Let them see the size of the rooms and don’t have stuff on the floors. Can you get storage boxes to go under beds for toys?

Make sure the windows are clean so it’s allowing as much natural light in as possible.

You don’t need to put flowers and a candle out. No one bought a home due to that or didn’t.

just tidy up and clean. That’s all that’s needed.

Also remove all the toothpaste, shampoo etc from the bathrooms.

I think you want to minimise the obvious feeling that you’ve outgrown the place. Don’t confront a potential buyer with the future problems they may/may not have

there is five people living in a two bed flat. Even before viewing you’d assume outgrown.

When we were selling the flat we'd outgrown we shoved as much stuff as possible in the car during viewings - so stuff like the toy box, playmat, pram etc etc - basically if it could fit in the car, it went in the car.

Clean and tidy and make sure only 1 adult is at home to show them around. There is nothing like people being in the property to make it seem smaller.

Oh it’s completely understandable that they’ve outgrown, but don’t make it obvious! The potential buyer doesn’t want to walk into the place and think ‘Fuck, I might need to sell this place in 5 years as it’s clearly not practical!’

Ultimately, it’s just about having awareness of what’s in your control and what isn’t. So once the price is set correctly, it’s about appealing most to prospective buyers. How clean, organised and well maintained the property is is in the op’s control. Where it is and the current scale/style isn’t.

As tidy and clean and fresh as you can make it - we were a family of 5 selling a flat because we had outgrown it which was pretty obvious by the number of beds.

But you never know, we had one couple look round before we had decluttered and put it on the market and she absolutely loved it because it reminded her of the flat she had grown up in and she was looking for a family home!

Just clean and declutter. Don't let them think there is an issue with storage. Have pets stay with family members if at all possible.

Kids toys etc all totally fine.
Focus more on making it clean and fresh. I viewed some absolute dumps recently, poo & wee stains in and around the toilet, dishes piled high in the sink, crumbs all over the counters, bedrooms that smell stale and of BO and it did put me off.
If people are not keeping the place basically clean its a good indicator they are not keeping in top of other jobs and house maintenance imo.

I’d make sure it’s clean and fresh smelling, all bins empty, windows having been opened a good while beforehand. Large baby and toddler items out of the way. Any clutter areas and kitchen worktops clear. We hired a storage unit for a few months while we were selling our small outgrown 2 bed place and boxed up everything that wasn’t strictly essential to minimise the clutter in the house.

Maybe part open a couple of windows if it's not too cold. Put clutter in the car if possible. Flowers in the entrance hall or other prominent place? Clear surfaces. Burn some incense or scented candle to infuse the flat with an aroma / vibe she may later associate with the viewing?

Get any small jobs done that need doing. Ask a friend to walk around your house and be critical, do they notice a tap dripping, a really scuffed wall etc etc?

@AngeloMysterioso

please don't bother with fragrances. I know I'm very sensitive to natural oils & chemical fragrances, I wouldn't get past your front door.

kid clutter doesn't bother me at all, nor adults as long as it's clean.

just clean as best you can & try not to worry too much.

I live cut flowers, but honestly they will make it look more cluttered unless you have a nice clear table to put them
on.

one place I viewed recently, there was a gorgeous baby there & some baby clutter (all good) I wanted to look under the stairs as I wanted to see if there was enough room to put a toilet in there. (I need one downstairs)

Anyway the agent opened the door & an avalanche of baby toys & stuff came out.

the woman & I just looked at each other & laughed at him stood amongst all this kid clutter 😂. 🙅🏻‍♀️

10 tonne of baby crap wasn't why I didn't buy it!!