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Original poster

preparing the house for viewings - can't be arsed!!!

92 replies

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:11

it's only the third one and i've already got viewing fatigue. putting toys away, hiding the clutter, cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen, opening all the windows, making all the surfaces sparkly.

yawn.

does anyone manage to do it properly beyond the first viewing i wonder? (first time i had 3 lots of fresh flowers and banished dh and ds to starbucks)...

OP posts:

MissChief · 12/09/2006 12:12

depends how desperate you are! Ironically, IME it's the times when you haven't bothered that you actually seem to spark some interest! Do you want to risk it though?? those flowers/de-cluttering do help apparently, tho geunine pain in the arse too! Hate this stage! Good luck!

chocolatemummy · 12/09/2006 12:13

hey ho I'm in that world too. When did you go on the market? I am even more anal about the house being tidy now lol

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:15

well, i have one vase of flowers - kind of sums up today's half-hearted effort. but then again i only had the call from my agent a couple of hours ago.

house not on the open market yet - agent showing a few people already expressed an interest in living round here...

keep your fingers crossed for us. we were told that friday's viewers were going to make an offer yesterday, but it's all quiet from them so far.

OP posts:

LIZS · 12/09/2006 12:16

I found I got into a routine so knew I could get the house straight and shiny in just over an hour if we kept on top of the worst of it in the meantime. It is dull though, but focus on the kitchen , bathrooms and creating an illusion of space (so they have clear view across to the window as they enter the room). Always had fresh flowers in the dining room and/or lounge, polished taps, chrome and shower screens with ecloth and put loo seats down as a minimum!

littlemissbossy · 12/09/2006 12:16

I know it's a pain in the arse but do you want to sell your house or not?? Keep up with the hard work, it will be worth it in the end.

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:20

yeh, i know you're right. the tricky bit will be stopping ds undoing all the work - when he wakes i'll have to feed and change him then somehow find a way of stopping him lobbing cars across every room in the house.

OP posts:

littlemissbossy · 12/09/2006 12:22

LOL at me, I've been sat on my arse all morning on this bloody computer ... house is a mess, no washing done.

I sympathise I really do, I had exactly the same situation but with 3 boys and all the toys, games, footballs etc that go with them! But tidy/cared for houses generally sell quicker. Good luck.

chocolatemummy · 12/09/2006 12:23

whats an e-cloth?
I think the keeping it generally tidy all the time so that it doesn't take much to ship shape at last minute is the key. I hate it when you go to loads of trouble to make everywhere perfect and they just waltz in and out on about 2 minutes,

MissChief · 12/09/2006 12:24

is it related to e-cleaning? think i'd be good at that as must be virtual as opposed to RL !!

LIZS · 12/09/2006 12:26

e cloth here! . Smear free with just a little water ! Waitrose, Sainsburys etc sell them. Great for little finger prints and water marks.

ComeOVeneer · 12/09/2006 12:27

Our house has been on the market since the end of May and finally went under offer last week. part from Sundays when we now we won't have any viewings I have kept it spotless. I have a routine in the morning of hoovering making beds clean kitchen and bathrooms and general decluttering. I am glad it is over (and have been a bit of a slob the last couple of days).

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:31

congratulations cov - nearly there then

tbh it's looking pretty good now. i just did a bit of last minute chrome-shining, spurred on by lmb. it's just that in my fantasy world i would have flowers in every room, a light breeze blowing though the curtains, and a homemade cake sitting cooling in the kitchen. oh, and no ds tottering about dribbling juice from his beaker onto the floor.

OP posts:

ComeOVeneer · 12/09/2006 12:37

Yes the end is in sight. Now I am focusing on a major sort out, trips to the charity shops and dump and packing , unpacking . I kinda forgot in the stress of finding a place to buy, getting ours sold, that at the end of it all it would actually require us to move all our earthly possesions from one location to another. Never mind, hopefully it will all be over by christmas.

anorak · 12/09/2006 12:37

I'm in the same position. Keep thinking about the pound signs

lionheart · 12/09/2006 12:37

Have you made the beds? Flushed the toilets? Removed the plates containing leftovers from last night's dinner from the kitchen sink?

Then you're probably ahead of the field 'cos I've viewed houses with all of the above going on.

That's before we get on to the question of whether to remove the hard core porn from the teenage son's walls before viewings. (They obviously thought not.)

ComeOVeneer · 12/09/2006 12:39

Agree with what the majority have said, firstly aim for clean , then tackle tidy . There is a difference between a hideously cluttered house which looks like it has no room to store anything, and one that isn't pristine, but has a few toys lying around. (most people can see beyond that) .

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:39

and lol lionheart.

and there was me worrying about only one vase of flowers ...

OP posts:

LIZS · 12/09/2006 12:42

lol lionheart sounds like we've viewed the same house. Was the room painted black with coloured bulbs by any chance !

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:44

am not 100% sure whether i should be making it look like a showhome (i.e. no clutter whatsoever) or look like a loved family home (i.e. a few well-chosen magazines, toys, etc. left out).

in other words, boden catalogue in or out?

OP posts:

LIZS · 12/09/2006 12:47

Think who is most likely to buy it ? If a couple/single adult then minimise kids stuff, if a family I think toys etc are permissable. Try to confine the kids stuff to logical places though, not everywhere. If a family are looking then you can be too tidy and decluttered so that it looks like there is nowhere for things to go.

chocolatemummy · 12/09/2006 12:50

I make bed etc as soon as we are all up, and atleast wash the dishes even if not dry them and put away.
I think its more about being what they are looking for, I mean I have looked quite a few brand new houses (or showhomes) and they are spotless and gorgeous but just not what we are looking for

lionheart · 12/09/2006 12:51

The testosterone retreat had lime green walls with purple paintwork.

(Mind you, we did, erm, buy it).

lionheart · 12/09/2006 12:52

Aren't you supposed to have a slightly toasted vanilla pod to go with that boden?

Original poster

Tutter · 12/09/2006 12:55

really lionheart? i do have a vanilla pod...?

fortunate enough to have a family room, so will keep toys in there. and try to encourage ds to play with tasteful wooden ones, leaving plastic musical ones in the toy box (some chance).

it's a couple (no kids i think) so will minimise the baby chit-chat.

OP posts:

chocolatemummy · 12/09/2006 12:56

I know you should have fresh coffee and flowers etc etc but font you think thats a bit obvious and desperate now days? I viewd a house the other week with a big pot of fresh coffee and flowers everywhere and I noticed straight away and it put me off a bit,

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