Do I need to tart my flat up for the estate agent?

[AnelaSunshine]

We're getting the flat valued on Monday and plan to "clear the decks" a bit and clean and tidy more than normal.
Do we need get it all "anne mauriced" up in the hope of getting a higher valuation?
TIA

Depends what it looks like. Wouldn't have thought you would ahve needed to go overboard.

When we sold dp house we just gave it a good clean, decluttered and painted the living room a neutral colour as it was salmon pink!! (Don't ask.)

You don't need to go totally house doctor as a lot of these things don't actually up the value it just makes it a lot easier to sell.

Make the kitchen and bathroom look decent, if it looks scuzzy they might think it needs ripping out, clean looking carpets as they stay normally, spacious as possible, decor reasonable so it doesn't look like it needs a complete redecorating job, smells ok i.e not of damp.

I asked my agents outright, if they thought there was anything i could do to increase the value! or appeal of buyers.

We had a v small living room at the time - so my main thoughts were putting one of our large sofas in storage to make the room appear bigger. The agent said he wouldn't bother unless we stayed on the market a v long time - we didn't so didn't need to!

When I sold my little house. I had gone to my mums for the weekend.

I left dirty clothes, underwear, dishes etc strewn over the entire house. How embarrasing when the EA phoned to saythey had been in with a buyer and that he had put in a n offer.

We have got estate agents coming to value this morning. When we bought the house it was 2 flats we have converted it back to house but haven't finished the rest yet

I would try to make as much effort as possible. The estate agent will know they are dealing with smeone who is going to play the game (as it were)

Any top tips (other than not leaving knickers everywhere, like Kathlean for you!!) anyone cares to share?

I would make it look as nice as you possibly can, they've got to sell it and to do that it needs to look its best imo.

As I said earlier we had 2 estate agents round to today and I think the best thing to do is clear any clutter and get rid of harsh colours

Sadly, lots of people who view houses today can't see beyond the vendors stuff, so my advice is to completely clear any surfaces of 'stuff'. Try to make it look like you have space for everything. In the kitchen/bathroom - reduce it to fairy liquid & toothepaste. Just make it look like you can live there as if you didn't have any belongings.

Even if this means you have to pack all your stuff in a box and leave it with your friends family etc.

I used to load all washing, laundry baskets and ironing piles into the back of my car before viewings and park it around the corner.

With two tiddlers, washing seemed to spread to every single room and really made the place look cluttered.

These are all v helpful, thanks.Am trying to clear all the surfaces as best I can and remove photos etc (it's all about de-personalising things, isn't it?)

Hopefully the EAgent is going to be able to see past the crap and I'll ask the EA what else needs to be done.

What are your thoughts on stuff on top of wardrobe?

Definately de-clutter and de-personalise as much as possible (although don't leave the place too bare).

I would move stuff from the tops of wardrobes as you want the whole place to feel as spacious as possible.

Do you have a place to store any clutter? or Someone who wouldn't mind looking after the stuff for you until you sell?

Presume the Estate Agent isn't taking photos for a schedule tomorrow?

We boxed up some of our clutter and left it in the garage when we were seling...