any mumsnet house doctors ???

[happycat]

I am just about to put my house on the market and wanted some advice or tips about what will sell my house quickly.I remember looking at a house and they had left bug killer on the side and the place recked of air freshner it put me right off.what has put you off buying a house

strange taste in decor -eg. a very dark swedish sauna style bathroom. Pity,as house was immaculate and freshly done up. a front door to a new flat that didn't work - got locked in for 1/2 hour - if the door handle didn't work, god knows what else didn't!

I think the obvious ones - get rid of quirky piccies/ornaments/clutter - people are bad at visualising the house without your stuff in - maybe put a few mirrors up to add to impression of spaciousness. good luck with the house

Viewed a house a couple of years ago and what can I say ... disgusting, it was filthy!! Piles of washing up in the sink, bathrooms stank and dirty clothes were littered on the bedroom floors! If you're selling your house - top tip- it needs to be spotless - everywhere!

Dirt! House must be spotless, especially kitchens and bathrooms. Nothing repels like a dirty loo. The house doctor also hates too many family photos around, distracting for viewers. Love that show!

Religious icons are a big no no. I'm even taking my Salman Rushdie books off the shelf just in case I upset anyone!

Clean clean clean everywhere - especially bathroom and kitchen. In the kitchen clear everything away into cupboards - the only appliance out should be a clean kettle - the rest is superfluous.

Stand outside your front door and glance around the house before you even enter. Will your house be "the one with the weeds/ant problem/peeling paint"?

Clear photos out - maybe one or two out but no more.

Hide all bathroom junk unless the bottles are beautiful - have a box reasy to stash toothbrushes in etc when you know you've got a viewing.

Can you tell we're moving too!??!

Been watching lots of episodes of house doctor recently. One of her real no-no's is having too many personal things on display. It stops people from being able to imagine their things in the house. Keep it neutral. Also she's really opposed to air fresheners. Put natural smells (bowl of fruit or fresh bread) in kitchen. If you have too large/much furniture put some of it in storage.

BEdrooms that smell bad! that's the only thing that puts me off, we have refurbished already three houses and normally overlook colours, bathroom and kitchens, etc because we would change them anyway but entering into a smelly bedroom...no way! I can not even imagine the house as a nice place if the bedroom stinks.

Basically declutter to the max. Makes the house appear more spacious (also is easier to keep tidy for viewings) and more attractive. If you're going to "touch up" some areas because of marks on walls, etc., do it sufficiently in advance that the house doesn't smell of paint - offputting smell and makes people think you're trying to hide something . Fresh flowers are attractive and add a refreshing fragrance (no chemicals). And try to keep the children out of the way when viewers are round.

make sure there is no dirty underwear on the floor - oh yes that has happened to us (but it was a rented house) and no washing up in the sink/dishwasher. Also get rid/put into storage any big furniture (unless you have a big house) to make your house feel really big.

Yup - declutter as much as poss. Just look at it as a way of starting to pack away stuff for the flitting anyway. Having recently let my old flat out I've noticed that prospective viewer/buyers have become very discerning, probably due to all the house programmes on TV. They expect everything to be just perfect. Neutral shades of paint always seems to be a plus point.

TBH, it's all common sense really.

Make sure you finish off all the little unfinished jobs - people may wonder if the little things are indicative of the general repair of the house.

Get your carpets professionally cleaned - they'll smell fresh and look nice. Until your child is sick/spills a drink on them.

Definitely sparkling clean.

Don't worry too much about decor at this stage unless you have a room painted a really vivid colour or a dark shade. If there's little interest in or offers for your house, it may be worth painting rooms like that a lighter, neutral colour and going for the full on House Doctor treatment.

I remember looking round one house where we nearly didn't make it past the doorbell - it played "Land of Hope and Glory" and DH and I were wetting ourselves when the man opened the door. This person also drew attention to the ugly eyesore of an extension to the house at the bottom of the garden (we hadn't noticed!) and said "but it doesn't have planning permission so it will probably come down" thereby alerting us to possible demolition work in the future.

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the placing of mirrors (or mirrrrs) to make the place look more spacious and brighten up any dark corners.

make sure doors, skirting boards, woodwork are all clean, dust corners, tidy wardrobes (yes viewers will look in), tidy inside of kitchen cupboards, clear all clutter, fresh flowers, lights on in rooms that might be a bit dark, doors open wide, windows closed if any traffic noise, windows clean, outside of house tidy ("kerb appeal", hallway as bright and welcoming as possible, clean oven, tidy kids toys away, remove all traces of pets, mow lawn, cut back overgrown shrubs, put a few pots of flowers at front or hanging basket....

You know it's funny about this not having personal things on display - I moved fairly recently and I know it's silly but when I saw a house covered in happy photos of families having fun I felt really good about the house, when the house was de-personalised I felt it had no soul and that I wanted somewhere where a family had already been demonstrabley happy - am I the only one?

I agree countessD but what about avocado bathroom suites I read recently that they are a big turnoff second on the list infact is this really true??

shudder

They will soon be fashionable in ironic retro way for about 5 mins though

thanks for all your posts it looks like I will be too busy to be on mumsnet then for weeks.I just don't know how on earth I am going to keep it spotless with 3 children.

Hehehe this just reminds me of a mate who was selling her house and put all the dirty dishes etc... in the oven and the prospective buyer nosey bu lady looked in it in front of her!! Why?? the oven wasn't even included in the sell?

no, cd, i also am encouraged rather than put off by lots of family photos around - tasteful ones of course!

advocado bathroom suites aren't good but there's one in the house doctor book and she made it look good. That woman's a miracle worker

If it's any consolation Happycat, I tried to keep our house relatively spotless while it was on the market and it was v stressfull with three kids. We ended up selling it to a couple who came and viewed it after ten mins notice on a Saturday when the kids were having lunch - the place looked like a bombsite (although it was clean underneath ) - just goes to show!

Also top tips from a friend of mine - if you're short of time, chuck toys, clutter etc in your ironing basket and stick it in the car under a blanket and put clothes from the floor flat under your duvet!!