Successful Estate Agency. Top Ten Tips to Impress Your Property Viewers

Getting your property looking its best for a viewing is essential in order to receive that all-important offer.

Unsure where to start? Here are our ten favourite tips from one of our Property Experts, Stalybridge Amy Wolstencroft.

Before we start, if you do want to sell your house fast then simply complete this online form.

1. Boost Your Curb Appeal

   Before they make an appointment to view, many potential buyers will scrutinise your property from the road. First impressions count!

   Buyers will not only be looking for an attractive exterior, but they will also be seeking evidence that the property has been well maintained. Any sign that they will need to spend time or money may put them off.

   As well as ensuring the garden looks at its best, arrange any necessary repairs including repositioning slipped tiles and mending leaking gutters before you go on the market. If paintwork looks tired, freshen it up.

2. Make It Light and Bright

   Once you have viewers through the door, now is your chance to wow them with the interior. Keep decoration simple by using light, neutral colours to make your house appear more spacious. Touch up any chipped or scuffed paintwork and consider painting over patterned wallpaper.

   Your aim is to create a blank canvas against which buyers can imagine their own belongings. With a few cans of emulsion, you can achieve maximum effect for minimum expenditure.

   Book a Valuation Now

3. Cut the Clutter

   Your aim is to enable potential purchasers to visualise themselves living in the property.

   Less is more when it comes to ornaments, and steer clear of anything too individual. If people don’t share your taste, they may subconsciously be influenced. An abundance of family photographs may distract and are therefore best kept out of sight.

4. Dress to Impress

   Make it easy for prospective buyers to see the primary purpose and potential of each room. If a bedroom is a double, make sure it contains a double bed rather than a single.

   If you’ve converted a fourth bedroom into a study, market your property as a three-bed or change the study back into a bedroom. Your Estate Agent can advise you on the options most attractive to your target purchaser.

   Consider replacing worn or stained carpet. You don’t need to have an entire room re-carpeted if only a small area is affected, or patching it can be very successful instead.
   If you live in an older property, it may be worth reinstating period features such as fireplaces, cornices and ceiling roses which were often swept away in the days when such things were unfashionable.

   Subtle lighting is a must, as are subtle-smelling flowers scattered around the house.

5. Keep It Clean

   It’s obvious, but do make sure your house is sparkling clean from top to bottom.
   Not only will this immediately make it more attractive, but it will also reassure prospective buyers that it has been well maintained in other respects.

6. Revamp Your Kitchen

   The received wisdom used to be that, as purchasers would wish to fit their own choice of kitchen, a vendor was better off dropping the price than spending money on updating.
   These days many people would rather buy a house that already has a reasonably stylish kitchen. If yours is just a little tired, you can pep it up by fitting new cabinet doors, worktops, handles, tiles and flooring as necessary. If it’s totally exhausted consider replacing it. With so many high quality and reasonably priced ranges available, you can do so without breaking the bank.

   Go for something simple and resist the urge to save money by indulging in DIY unless you are confident of your skills – poorly fitted units are a real turn-off.

7. Bathroom Basics

   As far as suites go, you can have any colour you like – as long as it’s white!

   A professional clean can rejuvenate a tired bathroom or, if it’s coloured, you may do better to replace it. This applies particularly to strong colours like the notorious avocado, which I still see all too often during my valuations.

8. The Outdoors

   You don’t have to be the world’s greatest gardener to make your outside space look inviting – a few colourful pots and planters can work wonders and show off your garden’s possibilities.

   If you have a patio, demonstrate the potential for al fresco eating and entertaining with some strategically placed garden furniture.

   Ensure that, at the very least, your garden looks neat, fencing is in a good state of repair, and your shed is well maintained and tidy.

9. Pets

   Being welcoming to your viewers is essential, but your dog’s enthusiastic greeting may not be to everyone’s liking. Ask a neighbour to look after your pets during viewings if possible so you can both concentrate fully on the property.

10. Winning Ways

    Don’t stop at creating the right look and feel for your house – giving some attention to your personal style and approach can pay dividends.

    Although the people who buy your property won’t actually be buying you, it may help to encourage them to make an offer if you seem like someone they can relate to.
    Be prepared to provide information about your house and the local area. Be alert to any feedback about your house you receive during the viewing or afterwards from your estate agent as it may be helpful for future viewings.

Book a Valuation Now