During these difficult financial times it’s more important than ever to get the best price for your property. Follow this quick and easy Estate Agents guide to preparing your home to achieve the best price and FAST!

Create Awesome “Curb Appeal”!

First impressions are everything. If your property makes a great impression from the outside, buyers will want to see what’s inside!

Take a moment to assess your property; through the eyes of your viewers & be critical! A shabby exterior will lead buyers to believe the rest of the property hasn’t been well maintained.

Follow our Top Tips to achieve great curb appeal;
• Mow the Lawn & get rid of weeds
• Plant flowers, pots or hanging baskets at the entrance of your home.
• Store away any garden tools/ children’s toys
• Remove old garden furniture
• If paintwork on windows and doors is looking tired then re-paint.
• Clean windows and gutters

Depersonalise & De-clutter

When selling your home, less is truly more. Potential buyers want to see that there is space for all of their possessions and envisage themselves in their potential new home. The key to enforcing the idea of ‘space’ is to have as much empty space as possible. If your house is crammed to the brim with furniture, knick-knacks, paintings & family photographs the whole place tends to appear much smaller than it actually is and clouds that vision.

Consider- have I used this in the last year? If not you probably don’t need it- If you don’t need it then why not donate, sell or throw away?

• Remove excess furniture , re-arranging what’s left until it makes sense and is clear to see what each room is used for.
• Pack up all knick-knacks & photographs
• Store away books & CD’s
• Clear kitchen counters
• De-clutter the bathroom, leaving just the essentials on show or better still in a cabinet
• Take down those posters on the kids bedroom walls
• Tidy up the kids toys in handy inexpensive storage boxes

Think of this process as giving you a great head start on packing when you get your sale!

Fix all those jobs you’ve just never got round to!

Today’s buyers lead busy lives and may not want to take on various repairs and improvements after moving in. If work needs to be carried out, ideally this should be done before the “For Sale” board goes up

• Touch up paint and repaint rooms altogether (in neutral creams & whites) where necessary
• Fix any holes in walls or doors
• WD40 any squeaky doors
• Ensure all flooring is in good repair and ultra clean, where necessary replace worn vinyl and shampoo carpets.
• Fix leaky taps and re-seal the bath, shower and sink where the sealant has become discoloured, degraded or started to break apart.
• Replace old light bulbs & add extra lights to rooms that can appear dark

Make your house sparkle

A sparkly clean house will show buyers that you have taken good care of your home whilst living here. Serious attention to detail is required to present your house to the best it can be.

Pay particular attention to:

• Deep Clean Kitchen & Bathrooms -having these rooms clean can make a huge difference in perception of whether a house has been well kept or not.
• Get the duster out and banish those cobwebs
• Vacuum regularly
• Wash the windows inside and out
• Polish mirrors
• Update tired Rugs & Soft Furnishings where necessary
• Air the house; it’s important to get rid of any unwanted smells including pet smells, smoke and last night’s dinner!

Now, you’ve completed your jobs and the House is looking FANTASTIC but don’t stop now........spend a few minutes a day maintaining the neatness of your home until you get that all important sale!

Pre-Viewing

Well done your work has paid off and we have viewings lined up, ahead of the viewings you should;
• Open Blinds & Curtains and pop the lights on- bright, airy spaces are a must for buyers
• Plump those cushions and ensure beds are neatly made
• Complete a final hoover & tidy round
• Buy Fresh Flowers to add some life to a room, it make a great first impression
• If you’re doing the viewings get someone to look after the kids & pets for a half hour, you want as few people as possible during viewings
• Find out your potential buyers Names

And finally .........Is your Agent being Pro-active?
If your agent is struggling to achieve serious interest in your property or you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving - appoint a new agent that will really make things happen for you!

When choosing an agent consider the following:
• Do they advertise on all the major online portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, FindaProperty & Prime Location?
• Have they been successful in selling similar properties to yours?
• Do they present houses to a high standard?
• Are they available 7 days a week, ensuring they never miss a potential viewing?
• Have they come recommended by a friend?
• Can you work well with this Estate Agent?
• And importantly, does their Fee represent value for money?

Appointing a proactive, motivated Estate Agent has never been more crucial when it comes to selling property, especially in the current market. Ensure yours is working for you to achieve your sale.

For more information about selling, click here to go to Open House Estate Agents in Wigan website: http://www.onlineestateagents.org.uk/wigan_south_west/index.html