Castles Estate Agents Farnham and Aldershot

Make sure the house is tidy and free of clutter, you don’t want potential buyers tripping over toys etc.

If you have pets that are likely to be a nuisance, put them out of the way.

Make sure the washing up is done and any washing or ironing is put away.

If selling in the Spring or Summer open the windows to let some fresh air in and put some fresh flowers on the table. In the winter consider lighting an open fire, if you have one, would-be buyers like such features and often want to know if fires are working.

Make sure the house is light and airy, draw back curtains or blinds, if it’s a gloomy day put on some small table lamps to make the room look cosy.

Have a spring clean before you put it on the market. If you are going to be selling, it is a good time to ‘chuck out the chintz’ and have a really good tidy up, do you really need all that stuff you’ve been hoarding in the attic?

Make sure little jobs around the house are done. For example does the doorbell work, is the porch light working, have you fixed that dripping tap in the kitchen?

Make the house look welcoming, first impressions count. You want to get people through the door and if the house looks unkempt on the outside, what are people going to think about the inside. If you are selling in the Summer, put a few inexpensive hanging baskets or potted tubs outside to brighten the entrance up. If selling in the Autumn or Winter, make sure the path is swept and the porch light is on. If you in a not very well lit area, consider how people will find the house.

If you have small children, consider taking them out for 15/20 minutes or so and ask your agents to do the viewings. Research has shown people spend a lot longer looking round a property if the vendor isn’t there. Also particularly if you are selling a small house the more people that are in the property the more crowded it can be.

If necessary, add a few finishing touches. These don’t have to be expensive, they can be such things as fresh flowers, the old cliché freshly baked bread or scented candles.