10 tips to help sell your home
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by Laura Howard
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Read: Five factors that will boost your home's value
1. Up your kerb appeal
Buyers have been known to dismiss houses before they've even stepped through the door, so before you put your home on the market give the front garden some TLC. Mow the lawn, sweep up, put up a hanging basket or plant some new flowers in the beds. You may also want to give your front door a fresh coat of paint if it's looking tired.
2. De-clutter
This is the single most effective measure you can take. If your home looks cluttered buyers will think you don't have enough space, so use this as an opportunity to have a big clear out. Tidy up before viewings and ensure coffee tables, desks and work surfaces are as clear as possible and kids toys put away.
3. Get your carpet deep cleaned
Clean carpets make a big difference, in fact this could be the best £100 you'll spend. Before viewings it's also worth having a good hoover.
4. Depersonalise
Sellers don't want to see your laundry or wedding photos. Also remove trinkets on shelves and hide away toys. Your buyers will want to see how your home can become theirs and all your personal belongings won't help them achieve that image.
5. Neutralise
You may be a fan of red walls but your potential buyers may not. Paint or paper walls in cream or beige if you're worried your colour scheme could put people off.
6. Clear off
There should be as few people as possible during viewings - so get someone to look after the kids. The same goes for enthusiastic pets - find a willing volunteer to take the dog for a walk!
7. Get rid of smells
The air should be fresh and odour-free - avoid cooking strong smelling food before viewings, open the windows and clear out pets and their paraphenalia.
8. Maximise what you have
Do you have an outbuilding that can be used as an office? Also tell buyers about any useful storage areas they might miss.
9. Buy fresh flowers
Give your room some life with a vase of roses or lilies. It may be a cliche but it makes a great first impression.
10. Know your stuff
You should be able to tell viewers how much your gas and electricity bills are and what your council tax is. Be prepared to answer questions on your local area too such as local schools, transport links and other facilities.
Home & Mortgage
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Leave the house to the agents to show people around if you can, and make yourself scarce! This has worked wonderfully for me on three occasions, as the buyers want to see the house and not you. A good estate agent will provide all the answers and make sure that your property is protected. After all, do you feel comfortable viewing a house with the vendors present?
Do not risk the above letter without asking a few people who have used the
agent you are using, we used a major estate agents in LINCOLNSHIRE & as
we were living abroad at the time left them the keys. ( The property was fully
furnished & most of our belongings were left there ) when we returned we were
told by our neighbours, the estate agents would open the door & let viewers in
then go & sit in their car while they viewed the house. We had turned off the water to the house & left large notices on the toilets stating this, when we returned we found all 3 toilets had ben used & obviously had not been flushed
& this had been over a 6 month period. The neighbours told us this was normal with this estate agents. SO BE WARNED.
I would support the above and would not under any circumstances give a set of keys to ANY Estate agent ! When I sold my flat in Watford the 'reputable' agents had a key and I found out by chance that, whilst I was in the USA, they had simply given the keys to a prospective purchaser after a viewing so that they could confirm dimensions !! Likewise a friend in Yorkshire had a similar experience with another large and supposedly reliable agent, who when selling deceased parents house. not only 'lent' the keys to prospective purchasers but was on two separate occasions responsible for leaving doors open. After the second the keys were taken back - several items were later found to be missing.
So, be there - and make sure all the visitors stay within your sight.
I will say again, that on the three occasions that I have sold houses, it has worked wonderfully for me!
Has anyone heard about Arun estates bring back 100% mortgages? I think it might be a good way for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder. It means that those contemplating buying a home will not have to save for a deposit which could speed up the process. Take a look here http://ptts.co/rpjSCd