Here it is, part 2 of what to do to get your house sold. Earlier this week I focused on the outside, now we shall enter inside and go room by room. First up is the Living...
via Oliveaux
As this is usually the first place you see it should set the tone for the rest of the house. Pack up all of your personal photos of Nana and the kids and pics of the dog and cat (unless they are artfully arranged on a wall in black and white in matching frames). This will allow buyers to visualise their pictures in your room, and just think you will be packing them up soon anyway! Do this along with any other cluttering pieces and dust collectors. It will save you time when the Real Estate Agent calls you with 30mins to spare before bringing buyers through.
This area should be spotless (as with the whole house), rugs and carpet vacuumed, cushions fluffed....
As this is usually the first place you see it should set the tone for the rest of the house. Pack up all of your personal photos of Nana and the kids and pics of the dog and cat (unless they are artfully arranged on a wall in black and white in matching frames). This will allow buyers to visualise their pictures in your room, and just think you will be packing them up soon anyway! Do this along with any other cluttering pieces and dust collectors. It will save you time when the Real Estate Agent calls you with 30mins to spare before bringing buyers through.
This area should be spotless (as with the whole house), rugs and carpet vacuumed, cushions fluffed....
also home...and fresh flowers around. They don't have to be from a florist from your garden is fine. A great choice is Lillys. They smell and look divine, last quite a while and if you cut off the stamens (the little bits with the pollen on them), you will avoid offending allergic people and getting impossible stamen stains on their white silk shirt!
my dream space
Your kitchen and dining area will be looked at closely. Pay attention to your bench tops, oven and cupboards (yep they will look inside). Try and make everything as neat and tidy as you can, like you do this everyday and it is normal. It shows you care about this home and it has been loved and looked after. No one wants a home that has been the maternity hospital to a community of rats and bugs, so if you have some...get rid of them.
Your kitchen and dining area will be looked at closely. Pay attention to your bench tops, oven and cupboards (yep they will look inside). Try and make everything as neat and tidy as you can, like you do this everyday and it is normal. It shows you care about this home and it has been loved and looked after. No one wants a home that has been the maternity hospital to a community of rats and bugs, so if you have some...get rid of them.
Also, pack away as much unnecessary clutter as you can.
country home
Your bathroom is another spot that will be looked at very closely. Clean and disinfect this space well. Make sure it is well ventilated. If you have any mildew a few drops of Oil Of Cloves in water is the only thing that kills the mould spore...bleach just hides it. If you have any stains left, you'll need to repaint to freshen it up. Tiles should sparkle as well as your mirrors.
country homeYour bathroom is another spot that will be looked at very closely. Clean and disinfect this space well. Make sure it is well ventilated. If you have any mildew a few drops of Oil Of Cloves in water is the only thing that kills the mould spore...bleach just hides it. If you have any stains left, you'll need to repaint to freshen it up. Tiles should sparkle as well as your mirrors.
Put out some fluffy towels a little vase of flowers and get rid of all your shampoos and kids toys from the tub.
new england living
Your bedroom will need a de-clutter. Make up your bed everyday. Clear off your reading glasses and books from the side tables. Get anything off the top of your wardrobes and pack it all away. Turn on your bedside lamps when you have a buyer coming through...you will be surprised what a difference it makes. Do this in all of your rooms unless you have wonderful natural light.
new england livingYour bedroom will need a de-clutter. Make up your bed everyday. Clear off your reading glasses and books from the side tables. Get anything off the top of your wardrobes and pack it all away. Turn on your bedside lamps when you have a buyer coming through...you will be surprised what a difference it makes. Do this in all of your rooms unless you have wonderful natural light.
Martha Stewart
If you have a home office it should be well organised. All paper work packed up (it will give you an excuse to catch up and file it), books in neat stacks, pens and paraphernalia in drawers and if you can some matching boxes to make it look like there is ample space for them to put their office gear in...even though you will take them to your next home. You are just creating a visual for the buyer so they can see what a fab home this one is. Add flowers.
me&mo
In all of your rooms, turn on side lamps, light candles in fireplaces if it is not winter and open windows. This not only shows buyers everything works and you have nothing to hide, but it gives a sense of warmth, atmosphere and fresh air to tempt them even more.
Now if all this seems a little daunting to you, start a room at a time. Start at the ceiling and work your way down. Cobwebs, clean curtains, dust, de-clutter, vacuum and mop. Don't forget the Garage as this is important to Men...give that job to your significant other.
If you can do all of this you will save yourself time and effort when you have to pack up, your home will sell in no time and it will look so great, you will have buyers fighting with each other.
This is what we did and we sold our home in 3 days and Mic's parents went up at the same time and theirs sold in 2! Good Luck.
Ness xx
Ness xx