Featured Properties

Preparing for a Viewing

Before you confirm your first viewing, you should consider how your property looks to prospective buyers/tenants. It’s often difficult do this, as it is your home and you see it every day - however, with the following points in mind, you may be able secure an offer sooner than you thought!

External Appearance

You want to make sure that the outside of your property is looking its best. People often act on their first impressions, and if they are put off by something on the exterior, it may set their minds for the rest of the viewing.

Some things to consider:

How does the front of your property look? A new coat of paint on the front door and windows, (if necessary and done carefully) can instantly brighten up any property. Also, don’t forget to clean your windows and make them sparkling, and make sure your doorknocker is polished and your doorbell works.

Garage & driveway – maybe your garage door needs painting? Are your driveway and path clean and clear of weeds? This will show prospective buyers/tenants that the property has been well looked after.

Spend some time in the garden – mow the lawn, do some weeding, turn over the borders. You may also want to buy some plant pots or hanging baskets and plant some flowers to add a bit of colour and brighten up your garden.

These are some simple tasks that may help you to achieve the price you want for your property. You could also go further if you wanted - paint the whole of the front of the house, get new guttering or facias – it depends on what you think your property needs and if you want to spend any more on your property.

Entering your Property

Firstly, take a look at your entrance/hallway. You want it to be welcoming and attractive to people viewing your home, and so you may want to consider the following:

• Is it bright and airy? You may decide to paint it a light, neutral colour, or change the wattage of the bulb in your light – after all, some of your viewings may be on an evening, and you will still want to give the viewer the same effect.
• Did you door squeak or stick as you opened it? Oiling hinges or seeing to that sticky door will help to create the good first impression you want to give to people.
• Are all your coats piled on the pegs or are the numerous pairs of shoes stopping your viewers from entering your property? Clear away any unnecessary items or clutter to let people see how big your entrance actually is.

Living Room/Lounge

This is usually the first room your viewers will see, and can often give them the first impression of the inside of your home. This room is usually the room where people go to relax, and so you may want to create this type of atmosphere. Think about the following:

• Put away any unnecessary objects – photo frames, ornaments, kid’s toys, magazine racks, etc. Each of these will prevent the viewer from picturing their own items in the property and how nice they would look.
• How clean are your curtains/carpets/upholstery/rugs? It may be worth investing in a professional cleaner or hiring the equipment yourself to make them look their best – you won’t believe the amount of dirt it will take out, no matter how often you clean your home! This will also make it 100% clean for the new owners of your property when they move in.
• Little details – straight cushions, curtains pulled back & separated equally, bookshelves neat & tidy – all aspects that make sure people see that your property has been looked after.
• Flowers – a small bunch of flowers can often brighten room and make it have nice fragrance.
• Lighting – soft lighting such as wall lights or tall floor lights can often give a room a relaxing atmosphere.

Dining Room

As its name suggests, the primary function for this room is dining, so other than your dining table, you want to avoid having too many other items in the room. If you’re currently keeping all the children’s toys in there, put them away so they don’t distract the viewers from the room – it will also make your room look bigger without any clutter.

• You may want to lay the table with your best crockery, cutlery, napkins, etc. Alternatively, you may feel that flowers or candles arranged in the centre of the table is enough – the choice is yours.
• Make sure your chairs are straight and pushed in around the table – this will make it look neat and tidy.

The Kitchen

This room is commonly the most significant for people looking for a property, and can often make or break a deal, so prepare it well. You may find that this is one of the rooms that needs the most time spending on it to make it look its best, but it will all be worthwhile when you get the positive reaction you were looking for from viewers.

There are a few aspects to consider when preparing your kitchen for viewing, but here are some ideas to get you started:

• The main point – is it clean? Hygiene is the main factor for a kitchen and you want to show your viewers that you have maintained it to a high standard. Work surfaces, floors, windows, walls, splashbacks, cupboards, sink, oven, hob, fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, ceiling – ALL should be cleaned as well as you possibly can.
• Are the surfaces clear? Too many appliances left out can create the false impression that there is a lack of work space. You want to keep the surfaces as clear as possible, so box up any unused appliances and put them away in the loft.
• Tidy your cupboards – it may sound like an unnecessary task, but viewers may look in the cupboards to see their layout and how much storage is available. Throw away any of those tins of emergency beans or soup and organise your cupboards or shelves so that it looks as though there is plenty of space.
• Paint the ceiling – years of cooking may have taken its toll – a lick of paint could make all the difference. (This may also apply if you are a smoker – any room in your house may have a hint of discolouration from the nicotine. A fresh coat of paint would give a clean and bright feel to the room).
• If you want to go one step further, the smell of a freshly brewed pot of coffee or bread baking can give that warm, homely feel to a property. If you feel that this is too much, simply ensure that the room smells pleasant and not of the previous evening’s dinner.

Bedrooms

The main thing to consider for each of your bedrooms is how large they look. People want space, especially in the master bedroom, so anything you have in the room that makes it look smaller, such as large free-standing wardrobes, extra shelves or bookcases, etc. should be removed. This could also help to make the room look brighter and more attractive.

• Dress your bed – it may sound insignificant, however, you want to make your room look as attractive as possible and as the bed is the main feature, you want it to look its best.
• If you have an evening viewing, leave your main light off and put your bedside lights on. This will create a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, which is what your viewer will want from a bedroom.
• Again, make sure all clothes have been put away tidily, your curtains have been pulled back evenly and you have removed any unnecessary items from the room.

Bathroom(s)

Often a potential selling point, the bathroom/en-suite/downstairs W.C needs to be impressive, so spend some time on it:

Make it sparkling! There is nothing more certain to put people off your property than an unclean, unkempt bathroom.

• Get rid of any mould in the corners of the bath, clean your tiles, especially those in the shower, and clean your toilet thoroughly – all these things will make a difference. There are a number of cleaning products available that will remove even the most stubborn marks.
• Invest in a new shower curtain.
• Put out your best towels.
• If you wanted to go a step further, new taps, towel rails, etc. can also have a positive effect and brighten up your bathroom. New tiles, new flooring – it depends on how far you want to go and how much money you want to spend!

Garden

As detailed previously, spend some time on your garden, as it may be a specific requirement for the viewer:

• Cut the grass, trim the verges, turn over the borders, get rid of any dead flowers and plant new ones in their place.
• If you have a patio or decking area, ensure there is no damage and that it is clean and clear. Decking and fences can often require a fresh coat of treatment to make them look their best.
• Trim any hedges or shrubbery to make them look tidy and looked after.
• Make sure your garden shed is in good condition. If it looks as though it could fall down at any moment, take it down – otherwise, you will give prospective buyers one more thing to do.

General

• Make your home pet free – not everyone is an animal lover and can often be allergic to cats & dogs. If you are able, take them out of the property for the duration of the viewing, and remove all traces of them, including lingering odours.
• Make sure you have a lampshade on every light – a light hanging from the ceiling with its bright light bulb doesn’t create a good look.
• Take a look at the flooring in your property (you may have indicated that all are included in the sale) – has the carpet or laminate lifted? Are there any stains or damage? Do you have squeaky stairs of floorboards? See to any issues you have before you start your viewings.
• All clutter and/or unnecessary items should be put away out of sight in each room. You want to make you property look bright, airy, fresh and clean, and in this case, less is more.
• Clean the inside of your windows – it may sound silly, but many people forget this important task. After all, what’s the point of cleaning one side when you still can’t see out of them!

Make sure everywhere in your property is clean & tidy! Overall, you want to show people that your property has been well looked after and will be a pleasant house to live in.