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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Selling your home

8 replies

Keenoonvino · 18/12/2013 08:57

Any tips to make house look and smell lovely? Any things we should be doing for viewings? I've already hidden most of our crap in the loft and removing some furniture Tonorrow to open up the place and make it seem more spacious.

Should we have small lamps on when estate agents bring people round? I will leave the house as I think it's off putting to have the owners there.

Any big tips?! Should I start baking?!

OP posts:
HoneyandRum · 18/12/2013 12:50

Make sure the house is warm for viewings.
Windows, mirrors and glass should be gleaming.
Carpets deep cleaned.
All cupboards should be uncluttered, neat and clean.
Make sure the entry looks great: front door could be freshly painted, all brass/metal gleaming, cleared of all dirt and any old plants. Have new plantings in planters on in the ground at the front door. When you walk in you should be able to walk around the house freely - no obstacles.
Paint over any "creative" or unusual colors and make all paint and decorating simple and neutral.
Remove all family photos and personal items so viewers can imagine themselves living there and not you.
Fresh greens help a house seem cleaner so fresh flowers or small green plants on tables or work tops help.

Most important: house should be deep cleaned from top to bottom and have no smell except fresh, so air out daily.

BrownSauceSandwich · 18/12/2013 14:18

Dont add smells... your viewers may have different tastes to you. I remember shopping for my first house, and being put off by the fug of scented candles EVERYWHERE, which I just can't abide. Instead concentrate on clean and really well aired, which nobody can object to.

Light each room the way you'd want to use it... For living rooms/bedrooms/dining rooms, that's probably cosy, low-level lighting, curtains drawn, fires lit (if you can count on them staying lit and being safe) or laid for lighting (if they might engulf the room in smoke left unattended!) obviously, for viewings in daylight, lights off, curtains and blinds right open, not at half mast! If you leave the lights off, they'll just switch on the central lights, which isn't always the best look.

Make it tidy, but not clinically so. Use your judgement about the scene you want to set. A novel left open on a coffee table in an otherwise tidy room suggests a relaxing evening. A laptop, mobile phone and a sheaf of papers on the coffee table suggests no proper workspace. Salt and pepper mills on the dining table suggest a useable dining area. Last nights dinner things on the dining table suggests a hangover.

Absolutely agree that mirrors and windows (plus any glass light fittings) should be sparkly clean. Same really for anything that should be shiny or white (tiles, sinks, skirting boards, light switches, window sills, French polished furniture, dishwasher fronts...) Repeat often, because they don't stay like that for long!

Get an honest/rude friend in to give it the once over before you throw yourself to the real wolves!

JustSpeakSense · 18/12/2013 14:29

I heard if you heist up some vanilla essence in the microwave (in a ramekin or similar) the kitchen will smell like fresh baking and very homely. Good luck!

Mum2Fergus · 18/12/2013 17:09

Speaking as a buyer I honestly wouldn't be swayed by any of whats been said Shock Id only be interested in it being safe,structurally sound and watertight! I look past everything else...

HoneyandRum · 18/12/2013 18:45

You may be the exception Mum2Fergus (or an experienced buyer) houses are a very emotional purchase for most people and first impressions are very important. We did all the above and sold our house to a cash buyer in six weeks.

Keenoonvino · 18/12/2013 19:03

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Seems like I'll be cleaning a lot! And hiding the toddler's toys. Do you really remove every single family picture? Doesn't that seem a little sterile?

The carpet in our hall is beyond a deep clean, with oil stains from pushchair and odd bits of dirt. But the rest of the house looks ok.

OP posts:
HoneyandRum · 19/12/2013 21:41

Can you buy a runner to put down in the hallway when the house will be shown? If it's the entry hallway that create a negative feel immediately. Our own family photos can be clutter for other people. I would play safe and remove them, add mirrors though in darker rooms to reflect light and make them seem bigger.

Yep 'fraid being as clean as humanly possible is definitely a priority.

specialsubject · 21/12/2013 12:29

I wouldn't worry about family snaps, buyers realise that they will go with you.

main thing is it is clean and well-maintained. Half-done DIY or lack of maintenance shouts 'un-maintained money pit'.

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