house up for sale

[jinna]

we have put our house up for sale and we have got a couple to come and view it tomorrow - what things should i concentrate on looking good? - what things do you look out for when you go and view a house - thanks in advance for your input

Everyone says that it's the bathroom and kitchen that really sell the house, so I would make them look immaculate but lived in and practical.

I can only think of house-doctory things now like de-clutter and de-personalise so people can imagine their photos on the shelf rather than yours etc...

Stand outside your house as if you were the buyer and start from there, imagining you're seeing your house for the first time. eg - what does your front door look like?

move all your toothbrushes and stuff away - make it like a show home - brand new towels for eg

Dont have it smelling of food and dont show them around yourself - make the agent do it.

Lots of light - draw hte curtains right back

ummm will think of more.

Clean clean clean clean. Agree with declutter advice too.

I viewed a house once that had knickers - HUGE - drying on a radiator. Not a good first impression.

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If you've got pets put them outside or in the car and get rid of hair.

If you have to show them round let them go into rooms first and lurk outside as rooms seem bigger with less people in them.

Get rid of controversial items (eg dh's collection of fake severed heads, your china penis collection, you know what I mean)

hurrah you're back dadslib!

What do people think about setting the table for dinner - I've always wondered if that looks a little too contrived?

Thanks for this thread Jinna. We put ours on the market last week and have
got a couple coming around this afternoon to look. Toys have been banished and dh given a kick up the backside and told to tidy his crap away.

Thanks for the tips now need to go and get rid of crumpled towels in bathroom and make sure that the nursery doesn't smell of sick anymore!

Good luck....

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agree with lots of light, love the lurking outside rooms tip! Open the curtains as wide as possible, toys out of sight if poss (to non-parents having toys around will always look cluttered, to parents they will think - gosh, theres lots of space for the toys). Not sure about the coffee tip - they'll either love the smell (like DP) or hate it (like me). Get rid of any foody smells from the kitchen. Great idea about vanilla essence (might try that myself if the smuggamums are coming to collect their kids)!

Even if the rest of the kitchen isn't spotless, cleaning the taps and the plughole fools most people at first glance.

Declutter personal belongings - leave surfaces as clear as possible. Clean everything, polishing stainless steel sinks/taps etc! Tidy away toys and any pet-related stuff eg. feeding bowls, baskets. Make rooms as bright as possible. Fresh flowers. Basic DIY if any unfinished jobs - finish is important. Clean up front of house, make as welcoming as possible. Keep children and pets away if possible!

The 3 things I remember noticing when househunting were warmth - if the house was cold I was turned off it instantly - so whack up the heating - and light. Turn all the lights on and make it really bright (and as someone else said, pull all the curtains back and the blinds up. Plus smell - I was just repelled by homes that smelt a bit 'funny'. So don't cook cabbage or fish, use a very good quality scented candle or room spray and make sure you don't have cat or dog odours etc. Get the carpets professionally cleaned if you can (not expensive to do) and make sure the bathroom and kitchen are clean. Clear away junk and old newspapers etc. Paint over any murals !!!

Oh yes, put lamps on rather than central lighting, which gives the effect of a nice snug home rather than a student house!

yes and "Mould and Mildwe" the bahtroom tiles.

I would get your sister or b - f to come and tell you what looks grimy

well Hel - lllooooooooooo dadslib

And be careful with smells, we once went to look at a house that had air fresheners in every room and all i could think was that it smelled like a loo after someone had had a poo

Vanilla may be a good idea but not if your prospective buyers hate vanilla (as I do!) Same with coffee etc.

Now toast, doesn't everyone love that smell?!

I would just make sure it's clean but not over fragranced. Open some windows and let fresh air in a while before they come too.

Yes and have as little as poss onthe worksurfaces as someone else said - no magnets on fridge or kids pictures up etc.

I would say put somewashing on the warm radiators BEFORE they come- washing powder - a non controversial smell.

My Mum spays pledge around to make it smell clean!

This thread should be called 'things to do when your MIL' visits....I'll try the plugholes bobsmum!
Great idea coddy - someone else will spot the thing out of place that is completely invisible to you.
Bathrooms etc - get rid of flannels and things to make the bath/sink area look bigger. Put a handtowel in and get everything else out. Washing machines can hide a lot of stuff...

Bottle of red and white wine on worktop with half/three-quarters left and cork halfway out, a couple of posh magazines on the coffee table, fresh flowers such as lilies. You're supposed to make them want your 'lifestyle', and this will make them want your house!

Anything stainless steel polished till it's gleaming, no clutter on worktops (apart from contrived clutter such as wine!)
Keep the television off, make sure all white paintwork is clean and fresh, especially slirting boards and door frames/doors.

Oh, and fresh, ironed bedlinen on the beds.

HTH

wow!!! thanks for the great tips - i'll let you know how it goes

Great tips, house is now sparkling and as de-cluttered as it will ever be. Ds even polishing his trains (I know, but he thinks he is helping)!

Just need to go and drink half a bottle of red and white wine before they come

Good luck for tomorrown Jinna.

Great advice on this thread, welcome back Dadslib too.

Baking bread smell should not repulse anyone. Maybe you can get a jar candle that is not overpowering that you can light about an hour before they come. Things I have heard here in the states:

Take down family pictures, they sat the prospective buyers want to "see themself" in your home, not you!

Fresh flowers (especially in loo) and nice wreath on door for curb appeal.

As everyone has said, turn on all lights, open blinds--be prepared for them to open your closets and the oven!

Also--some light classical music or gentle island music on the stereo is also memorable for them. You want to try to hit all of their senses so that they remember your home out of all of the others that they will be seeing.

You can leave some photos for them to take away with them on a place on the kitchen table. Everyone has mentioned the clutter and I am sure your homes both look beautiful.

Very best of luck and hope you get your asking prices. Try not be be insulted with low ball offers, keep your chins up and come back with a reasonable offer in return and keep the negotiation going. I have been through this 4 times. Don't let fighting over a fixture or an appliance get the in way, try to accommodate without feeling raped if you know what I mean! All the best!

Aparently first impressions count, so make sure that the entrance is in tip top condition, nice clean and tidy. Declutter is also a good idea, we have just gone under offer for the 2nd time so I am keeping everything crossed, at least the house can go back to the normal tip and dd (2) can trash it up in peace, good luck