Getting ready to sell

[PistolAnnie]

I have seen a house I like (and could actually afford) and am going to view it on Tuesday, the agent is then coming to value our house.

We've got 3 small kids and the bedrooms are FULL of stuff, tidy, but full. Downstairs it's tidy and there isn't too much 'stuff' but the main problem is that the general decor is tired, paintwork needs redone really and is looks a bit shabby in places.

On the plus side all the carpets were replaced within the last year, the kitchen is only a year old and the bathroom and cloakroom were redone about 3 years ago.

Outside is ok, not amazingly landscaped but tidy-ish but the garage doors desperately need to be repainted.

I would do all these jobs if I had time as I know it would look a lot better but as the village I live in is quite buoyant property wise I'd like to get on the market asap if I like this 4 bed I'll be looking at. Will untidy decor make a huge difference in your experience?

not worried about internal decor but am about maintenance; so those weather-exposed garage doors tell me that you let things go to ruin. That doesn't look to be the case - but to remove that impression, get them properly painted.

and if you can expose the floors to show off all those nice new things, do so.

stuff also not an issue if viewers can see how much storage there is, they can make their own judgements on their own possessions.

Agree, maintenance over decor. Any time I've been viewing houses, I dismiss most of the decor out of hand, as I have my own idea what I want it to look like in that regard. Properties that are poorly maintained, however, make me wonder what repairs I'm likely to be saddled with in the near future.

Thanks, I kind of thought that might be the answer!

Now to find a decorator to do the garage door!

Absolutely agree with PPs, we're buying a house which has hideous decor but is beautifully maintained. Shoddy diy jobs would be a big no-no (having just sold our last house which was bodged together by previous owners!).
Can you put some stuff up in the loft, or box it in the garage or borrow a friend's garage space? Even just getting rid of a few boxes worth can make a big difference. We hired a storage unit and cleared away loads of toys etc, so that we could get on the market quickly, we were also selling with 3 small children.

When we've viewed houses to buy lately I can't believe how little some people do to make the house ready for sale. I think tired paint on walls etc is fine, as the new owners can repaint. But I would highly recommend making rooms "clutter" free. It really takes from the room when there is just too much "Stuff" everywhere. I agree pack things away and place in the garage or at a friends house, otherwise people may visualise themselves growing out of the house quickly.

After spending a couple of days madly moving rarely used toys etc into the loft/garage we went on the market yesterday and have 2 viewings today!

I'll shift the pushchair and laundry basket out before they arrive and will Hoover and dust this morning (with 2yr old DDs help!)

My husband notice someone driving up and down looking at the house, went out for a chat and came back with the bloke to have a quick look round! So one of my viewers has already had the 'candid' version...

Thanks for the help, we've got a decorator coming today to quote for the garage door so will hopefully get that done soon and the rest is ok according to the agent.

Good luck! I ended up with my laundry basket in the boot of my car more often than not when we were on the market!

Ooh, I'd kill my husband if he did that! I need about 48 hours' notice before anyone outside my family crosses the threshold, never mind a potential buyer.

Good luck with the formal viewings.

Thankfully I'd tidied that day for agents photos but still, it wasn't exactly at its best.

The bad news for us is that the only house I want to buy had a 'Beth positive viewing' yesterday so I hope they don't put an offer in before my house sells!

Very not Beth!

Hopefully that's just estate agent's bluster. They probably know you're keen so are raising the temperature.

Yy, ignore every word estate agents say. Whenever there's a house we've been interested in, even ones on the market with no interest for months, there suddenly appears another 'very interested' party.

I'd paint the garage doors neutrally. I have two, and they are in to-die-for colours, but it's for us. Yes, any tatty paintwork needs to be done; garage doors can be done in two hours.

Supposedly the other party has put an offer in! Who knows what will happen.

We are buying (hopefully) and selling with the same agent and if we don't get the house we've seen our house will come off the market so the agen is quite motivated I think.