The Secret of Selling Your House

The Secret of Selling Your House

There is a simple secret that will help enhance your chances of selling your house.

Selling your house may be your one chance to make a substantial amount of money. Don�t let this chance slip through your fingers by carelessness or lack of effort. Remember, you need to save money as well as make money. Read on and learn how.

Most of the good things in this life involve making an effort, and selling your house is one of these.

Below is a list of little secrets that will save you money in the long run and help sell your house. The total sum you receive at the end of the transaction will be greater if you make sure all these points are covered.

1. Make sure your house is clean, free from odours and clutter.

A clean house will impress. A grubby house is, to say the least, off-putting. No one wants to smell resident animals - cats, dogs, guinea pigs etc. If you have any pets farm them out to neighbours or friends when you are conducting a visit around your house. Make sure the windows are open to allow fresh air to circulate. Don't forget to remove all dog poo from the lawn and patio areas. You would not want your viewers to tread in the mess and make a lasting and unwanted impression on your carpets. Remove all family clutter. Keep your mantle-shelf, sideboards, desks etc., free of family photograph. This enables your visitor to imagine their own belongings in the vacant spaces.

If you have children impress upon them that their toys etc., must be put away � just for a short time. Bribe them if you have to! That's no secret, just experience!

In the case where your children are 'exuberant', full of vim and vigour - call it what you will - if you are able to send them out on a visit to a helpful neighbour this would be a definite advantage. The author has walked out of a house because the disturbance the children were making made a sane viewing impossible. You could always take the children out for a couple of hours and get the Agent to handle the viewing for you rather than lose a potential sale.

If you are a keen fisherman, bird watcher, dog breeder, pigeon fancier, photographer etc. it would be well to remove all the trophies you have accumulated over the years. Only another pigeon fancier is likely to appreciate your display. Again - if you put all your sentimental clutter away, then any prospective buyer will be better able to imagine their own clutter there. These are all secrets requiring only little effort and you will save money by making a quicker sale. This could be a case of just starting your packing a little early.

2. Put a flowering pot plant on a table, or better still a vase of flowers.

This creates a pleasant atmosphere and adds to the feeling of freshness.

3. Make sure the bathroom is absolutely spotless.

No dirty towels hanging around. Put some clean, fluffy ones in place. Spotless sink, bath and loo and a new tablet of soap on the hand basin all give a good impression. No odd smells lingering. Consider buying a new loo seat. This will be an issue with a lot of people as it is such a personal item. A new seat will reassure them! Put a display of three fat candles on the bathroom shelf.

4. Place a couple of scatter cushions in a dramatic but toning colour on the bed in the master bedroom.

This is particularly effective and gives the room a �lift�. You may well already have a couple of spare cushions that will only need the outlay of new covers. Spend a little money to make a lot of money. Save money in the process is the secret.

A teddy bear tucked up in bed looks good in a child's room - not in an adult bedroom!

5. The kitchen will also need be spotless.

People have been known to quickly put dirty dishes in the oven - needs must when the devil drives! Another secret!

Several enhancements could be made here. Do you brew your own ground coffee? Always a good smell. A bowl of fresh, colourful fruit also looks good. A pot plant or bunch of flowers will brighten the room.But don�t over-egg the subject.

6. Outside, the approach to your front door should be clear and the garden should be neat and tidy

If you have a caravan parked on your drive or in the front of the house, is it possible to move this away from the property whilst you are conducting viewings? This will make the drive appear larger and the house itself more easily visible.

Clear the weeds from both the front and back gardens. Some strategically placed colourful pots of flowers will not go amiss. This last point is difficult if you are selling in mid-winter. In that case just concentrate on maximum tidiness so that the garden does not look too sad. It is possible to buy pots of flowering winter bulbs which could either be planted in the garden or placed in pots by the front door.

Again - make sure the lawn is poo free if you have animals. Keep their secret! This really is an important point emphasised by Agents.

Make sure the windows of the house are clean - yes - people do look out to see the garden and views etc. You don't want them thinking it is a foggy day!!

7. Over-flowing wheelie bins and rubbish are a definite no no.

If you have a collection of rubbish accumulating for whatever reason � perhaps you have successfully de-cluttered, make a swift trip to your local Amenity Tip.

8. If your carpet is really past its sell-by date or your walls are really murky, this may call for drastic treatment.

Consider having a cheap, plain carpet laid and quickly putting a coat of emulsion of the walls. Effort yes, expense yes, possibly a few hundred pounds depending upon the size of the carpet � but a sprat to catch a mackerel. This may well influence a sale of your property instead of you having to take a much reduced price or the property hanging remaining unsold. Spend money to save money, make that sale!

9. If you are holding a winter viewing or even on a dull summer day, make sure all the lights are on before your visitors arrive. Your aim is to present your property in the best possible light.(excuse the pun).

10. Often you will find prospective buyers will do a 'drive past' as they look at the area. Why not chat them up and if the house is presentable, drag them in off the street!!! The author has done this with great success. Just remember, you want to sell your house

This whole exercise is to show you that although you may have to spend some money, in the end you will save money because of the greater amount of profit you will make on the eventual sale.
Speculate to accumulate.

Good luck � we wish you every success!