Selling up - What is most important for the photographs?

[audley]

Hi everyone, we have decided to put the house on the market and are having the pics taken on Thursday. Now my week has gone crazy so I don't have much time to perk up the house. What would you think is most important for the photos and then the viewings? We are fairly tidy and clean, but what would put you off? eg I want to trim the hedge, DH isn't bothered. I don't mind a pit of clean folded laundry in view DH does...
TIA
Catherine

No laundry in sight .

Remove all signs of messiness, especially messiness that's personal - eg the washing, cups and bowls, etc. The odd messy hedge is less of an issue for me, but messy bedrooms, weird paint colours, clothes lying around etc looks less appealing.

There should be a few things in view as possible. Furniture: yes. laundry: no. Books on shelves: yes. Books on coffee table: no.

For the photos, everything should be perfect - garden neat and tidy, nothing left out that shouldn't be. Get rid of the DCs for the afternoon, cram stuff into cupboards, sling in binbags and store in the boot, whatever needs doing. You only need to keep it like that while the pics are being done.

For viewings, aim for "MIL visiting" standard, but people will cut you far more slack during the viewings.

Declutter
Clean
Remove animals & people

Don't have any crap lying around on surfaces eg. pile of letters on the dining table, newspapers on the sofa, mugs on the kitchen worktops.

Clear away as much stuff as you can to create illusion of space eg.reduce coats on coat hooks to a minimum (or they'll make your hall look narrow), shove boxes of toys under beds or in cupboards (or it will look as if the house is too small for a family if they're piled up in the room)

I would concentrate on de-cluttering the house to an absolute minimum rather than trimming the hedge.

For the pics - hide absolutely everything on surfaces etc.

Do the hedge.

no clutter
work tops esp
no clotes/ ironing piles

Great, thanks for all the advice. I need to find somewhere to put toys then and the other main place with clutter is the study. Last question then, can I store stuff in the garage, or do people like to see a car in it?
Cheers

You could put stuff in the garage, but better for that too, to be neat and tidy.

The best thing would be to stuff it all in your loft.

Good grief, I thought we were always in pretty good order but it's amazing what secret clutter I've managed to collect! Kitchen is spotless, garden sorted.Baby's room done. Need to put toys in his wardrobe and that's the sitting room sorted, so big problem is the study now. Must throw throw throw I think. Tomorrow I can hoover and polish. And trim that hedge!
Thanks everyone, I am feeling more positive now

Oh yes, and ironing basket will go in the cupboard under the stairs. Thanks Fimbo!

No obvious signs fo habitation ie no laundry or personalisation(colour, posters, photos). Be prepared to shift furniture around so it is out of shot and looks more sparing , tie curtains back to maximise natural light and view out of window and have flowers on window sill or mantlepiece

I have been fortunate to have JUST sold my house (last week) after being on the market for 18 months!!
During the 'photo visits' (we had 3) I removed almost everything from the room that wasn't furniture! I added strategically placed flowers / candles and hid anything that was even slightly personal (including my husband and children!)
During the time we were trying to sell my mindset changed from 'they'll just have to take us as they find us' to 'make my house into The Ideal Home Exhibition'!
My ironing basket lived alsmost permanently in the boot of the car (!) and on occasion there were washing up items in the oven! Its amazing where you can hide things temporarily when you need to!
Just don't open the wardrobe without protective footwear - mine was always filled with various sundries collected from around the house in a panic-filled dash 5 minutes before a viewing!!

Leave all lamps on, even in the day time for pics or viewings.

Great tips thanks mrs and spikejack (congrats btw). Today has again gone haywire so am behind but nearly there...We viewed a house last night and it was funny that DH commented on the fact it was spotless and clutter free, where as I noticed several large piles of clutter (no laundry though and the tidiest airing cupboard I've ever seen). DH was put off by some guns hanging on the wall and I didn't even notice them. He was also un happy about the wall colours and carpets, where as I was most impressed by how well maintained the house and garden is. We'll never move at this rate because even if we sell we'll disagree about what we want instead!

We're facing this as well. We're borowing a friends garage and storing as much of our superfluous stuff in there. I think clutter is the biggest turnoff. Look at photos of the properties your interested in and think about the ones you find attractive.

Hijack alert - do we need to smarten up for our HIPs or can we get that organised whilst tarting?

Might sound daft, but avoid having baby stuff - highchairs etc - in the photos. It gives the message "we are moving because this house is too small to raise a family in" and that will put off potential buyers.

No clutter.

SPACE
LIGHT

No large porno shots on the walls

Also, no weird figurines/fantasy dragon stuff

In general, if you're a bit of a weirdo hide it for the photos

I know what you mean LFC , when my mum was looking at houses she did report back to the estate agent about one house they viewed and suggested they ask the vendor to remove the photos of naked women wrapped in clingfilm! Oh, and to do something about the smell