Jameson & Mackay Property Agency, Perthshire Scotland
Property Agency | Online Advice | Prepare for Selling
Prepare for Selling
First impressions - Buyers will be very influenced by their first impressions of the property. Many prospective buyers will view the house for the first time without you being aware of it, by driving or walking past. What they see then may influence their decision to move the house fully or not. A buyer may be lost without even crossing the threshold.
Similarly, first impressions will continue to play a big part in a viewer's interest in the house after they arrange to view the whole property. The fewer negative features a viewer sees the more he or she will relax. The more negative first impressions the more the viewer will spend the whole visit on the look out for problems. Negative first impressions can be difficult to overcome so you should spend some time, and possibly some money, in reducing these factors as much as possible.
Start with what can be seen from the street
- Tidy the garden
- Fix broken gates or fences
- Repair guttering
- Paint gates and fences
- Paint window frames
- Fix outside light
- Tidy paintwork, flaking plaster and so on
Then move closer
- Tidy the path or drive
- Paint the front door
- Tidy the hall
All of the previous points will be seen before the viewer even enters the house. Look at the house yourself from the street then imagine yourself coming down the drive for the first time.
Clutter
Once the viewer is inside it is important that they can see the property itself and not be distracted by everyday clutter. Clutter not only makes the house seem smaller but it distracts the viewer. It makes it harder for the viewer to get a proper impression of the house itself, and for them to see how they would use the space.
It may help to clear rooms of everything you can live without, either permanently or temporarily. You can clear a room of items you do not want to throw away by packing them up, ready for your move.
If you have old, tired furniture consider whether the room would look better without it. Relocate items from a cluttered room into a less busy room in the house. Minimise distractions and the house will appear bigger.
Tips
- Avoid piles of magazines etc
- Clear the fridge and kitchen units of postcards, drawings, notes, recipes etc
- Remove children's toys
- Remove the dog's basket etc
- Tidy bathroom shelves
- Store away what you can
- Throw away now anything you are not taking when you move
Décor and presentation
Generally speaking the style of your décor is not the most important feature, although more extreme styles can definitely hamper a sale. Bright, clean, fresh décor is best.
Dull walls, stained paper and dust will not help the sale; the impression given will be of a house neglected and in decline. This will probably put the viewer on the alert for more evidence of neglect or disrepair.
Spending a lot of money is not necessarily the answer. Give thought to areas where an impact could be made with minimum outlay. Keep colours simple and try to complement existing carpets and accessories.
Tips
- Keep bathrooms clean and fresh
- Keep windows clean and sparkling
- Do something about peeling paint and wall paper
- Don't overdo the aroma of air freshener - a well ventilated room with fresh air is best
Repairs and maintenance
Do the jobs you know you have been meaning to do. Don't find yourself apologising for jobs unfinished and giving assurances that you "will be getting round to that soon"! Keeping minor maintenance up to date makes the house appear well looked after. These are matters which, if done, will not be noticed, but if left undone will create another negative impression.
Tips
- Oil squeaky hinges
- Fix loose door handles
- Replace broken panes of glass
- Replace light bulbs
- Fix dripping taps
- Fix loose guttering
Finishing touches
Don't declutter and empty the house to the point that it looks bare and lifeless. A few well placed flowers, or prints on the wall, can do wonders to cheer up a room. If you have a room that is particularly bare, see if you can move items from elsewhere in the house to brighten it up. If you have to buy something to set off a room, make sure it is something you can take with you to the new house.
Viewing
The house is ready, on the market, and hopefully people are wanting to view. Everyone has their own idea of how best to handle this. What the viewer definitely wants is a chance to view the house properly. Allow the viewer time to have a relaxed look around. Don't feel you must keep up a running sales pitch - few of us are particularly good at it and it may simply prove to be another distraction. It is often better to show the viewers around then let them go round at their own pace, but be on hand to answer questions.
If you have children or pets it's best to keep them out of the way if possible as they again may distract the viewer and make you more tense, however well behaved they may be.
Tips
- Clean windows
- Repaint front door (blue is the most popular colour!)
- Polish door furniture
- Cut the lawn and tidy the garden
- Remove clutter everywhere
- Keep kitchen clean and tidy
- Ditto for bathroom
- Keep the house well lit
- Display fresh flowers
- Children and pet free viewing
For buying, selling or leasing you need go no further for access to all the professional help and advice you will need.
Our estate agency department not only provides services for marketing and selling property but also legal advice and all other matters relevant to the move.
We also provide a residential leasing service.
Property Services are based at:
58-60 George Street, Perth
T. 01738 630350
F. 01738 565556
We are members of the Perthshire Solicitors Property Centre
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