Selling our flat, what can we do to make it look fab on the cheap?

[Mikocat]

We are hoping for a quick sale on our 2-bed flat and are currently trying to make it appealing to buyers.

We have new, neutral carpet being fitted in the entrance hall and living room this week and someone coming in to paint all the doors. We have fitted a shiny, new kitchen sink too.

Does anyone have any ideas what buyers like? We can't neutral the place up too much as it's quite 'character' - it's a 1960s build with a wooden ceiling and most of the original kitchen units, which would not only take an age/cost a fortune to replace but also seems like sacrilege.

It has a little balcony, which is lovely in the Summer, but I don't think it's going to be much of a selling point at this time of year, which is a real shame!

What goes down well? Fresh flowers? Any ideas appreciated!

Declutter and tidy to within an inch of its life. If you have any large/dark/ awkward furniture which makes the rooms look smaller, then consider putting it in storage (or ask any friends/family if they will house it for a bit...) Likewise if you have any dark or bold painted rooms, consider repainting more neutrally.

Clean as much as possible - especially windows and bathrooms. Make sure all curtains are opened properly, and the flat is warm and lights are on. Costs a bit in heating and leccy bills I know, but makes such a difference to the first impression for winter viewings.

Are there any little things that need fixing which you have got used to ignoring? If so try to get those fixed.

I'm not convinced fresh flowers make that much difference tbh but can't hurt!

As minciepie says,
Its always worked for us, clean and tidy and put absolutely everything not necessary somewhere away from view. Make the place look as large as possible. Remove pictures etc of family, you want buyers to picture themselves there not your family!!
Concentrate mainly on the Kitchen and Bathroom. These are huge selling points for females. If something looks tatty replace it.
If you take up space with cars park them elsewhere, remember there is never a problem getting parked outside!
The first months viewers are the most important.

If you haven't got any pots out on the balcony, I'd get a couple of cheapy ones, maybe with box topiary in, or something that's evergreen, and put them where they can be seen from inside (either side of the door?). And make sure you point it out as a lovely place to sit in the summer.

How is your bathroom? everything needs to be clean, shiny and spotless - with a full roll of loo paper in pictures! Do you have a shower? aI don't like houses without showers... mumble grumble.

Oil any creaky hinges - on doors and cupboards.

you could get some winter pansies in a trough on your balcony - to hint at the summer fun.

Good luck.

Have you furniture on the balcony? A small table and two chairs would sell it more as a lovely place to sit....so if you've moved it in for the winter or anything I'd get it back out there.

Nothing but a bowl of shiny green apples on the table
No clutter whatsoever on worktops (because you have soooo much cupboard space, even the toaster is always stored tidily away)
Flowers - go for one colour only, preferably white, in a nice and plain glass vase on your chest of drawers in the main bedroom - less conspicuous than the kitchen. Don't go for roses, they wilt too quickly, or fragrant lillies, they make lots of people sneeze.
Better still, post a link to your EA's photos so we can have a nosey and critique your place :o

Thanks everyone, Primafacie I love the idea about the apples!

There is currently a hanging chair on the balcony and a little table and chairs. We have some hanging lanterns, so could always light tea-lights in those for evening viewings. I may have to get rid of the dead climbing plants on the trellis! Good idea about the evergreens/winter pansies too!

We have taken quite a lot of stuff to a relative's house for storage, but I think we may have to strip back even more as we are real clutterbugs.

I'm intrigued as to whether people really do go around opening drawers and cupboards? I wouldn't dare, but maybe if the owners aren't around at the time of the viewing I would.

Hmm

I wouldn't open kitchen cupboards or wardrobes, but I would open other random cupboards to see how big they were - eg cupboard under the stairs or broom cupboard off the hall/kitchen etc.

Nothing to add really other than to say that lighting the tea lights would seem a little too contrived :)

Remember that you will have to pack things up to move so don't be afraid to box stuff up now - things that you don't need.

As Mincepie says, paint any bold coloured walls something pale and boring neutral. Broke my heart to do it but we got offered the asking price by 2 potential buyers immediately afterwards!

Make sure all light switch plates and surrounding walls are free of finger prints. No water marks in any sink, bath or shower; just go round with a hand towel before viewers arrive. No litter trays to pet bowls on view.

Oh yes, fingerprints and marks on walls. An eraser is good for getting those off.

go round the bathroom cleaning all the grout/sealant

get limescale off from round taps

if a room is small eg the second bedroom stay outside whilst the viewers go in on their own

Oh I used to open cupboards and drawers! Anything that comes with the house is fair game I think. For hall cupboards, fitted wardrobes etc. you want to get an idea of available space, and for kitchens it helps you see the quality and condition. At one house I opened a kitchen drawer and it nearly fell to bits . Would have needed a new kitchen if we'd bought that house.

Thanks for some great tips everyone.

It's mad how little imagination people have isn't it?

Am still chuckling internally at the idea that lighting tealights would seem "contrived" and yet living in a spotless, white house with no books or photos and eating nothing but green apples would be seen by a buyer as perfectly normal! :)

I've just remembered that I was once being shown round a flat and when the owner popped out of the room I opened a kitchen drawer to discover that he'd hidden all the dirty washing-up in there!

(Some) people look in cupboards and wardrobes - be warned. One woman even looked in a freestanding wardrobe - and a load (clean) laundry fell out! (this was when we were selling our first house).

Yes, I used to hide loads in the dishwasher! It is of course totally contrived, but viewings only last 8 minutes on average so you get very little time to sell your place. Anything that is a distraction reduces your chances, hence the 'no clutter, no pictures' rule.