1. Sort out those little jobs that you keep putting off.

Oil door hinges, stop squeaky floorboards with talcum powder, replace washers on dripping taps and missing hooks on the curtains. Fix all those things that you never got around to doing. Remember 'First Impressions' count!

2. Kirbside appeal:

House buyers 'drive by' before they pick the houses to view. Make yours stand out by painting the door a bright colour, planting window boxes or tubs of colourful flowers, and make sure the house number is visible from the road.


3. Clear out all that clutter:

Clutter can be distracting to people trying to visualise living in your home. Buy a roll of bin liners. Check out your local charity shops. Pack your knick-knacks in boxes and seal down the lids and stack them (in the garage & not the spare room) ready for the day you move.


4. Make the most of the views:

Clean the window panes and woodwork with a good household detergent. This improves the look of the room and lets in the natural daylight.


5. Sort out the Window Dressings:

Dry or steam-cleaning the curtains really does lift the room and it removes all those built-up odours. Remove those nets!! Replace them with muslin drapes or blinds. They are less fussy and old-fashioned and if you replace curtains with blinds it opens up the room.


6. Welcome come on in:

Keep your hall clean, light and clutter free. Adding a mirror can make a dark hall seem much lighter and bigger. Don't paint it a dark colour. First impressions count! Make sure you have replaced the bulbs in the light fitting.


7. Ceilings - Kill Those Cobwebs:

Don't forget to look up, your viewers will. Dust or vacuum those cobwebs away especially around light fittings. I find ceilings are a recurring problem when I re-style a property for sale. If your ceiling has any damage, it's worth spending a few pounds putting it right. It doesn't have to cost much, but it really puts people off buying.


8. Walls - Clean & Neat Lines:

Wash down emulsioned walls with a soft cloth and a little detergent and use match pots to touch up those damaged areas. Stick down lifting edges of wallpaper. You can crayon in scuff-marks on darker papers. If you do re-decorate to sell, use neutral light colours like cream, pale yellow and white woodwork. Light and airy makes it a winner every time!


9. Floors:

Viewers watch and feel what's under their feet. Carpets are seen as a large outlay for the new homeowner and that could cost you the sale. Carpets can also hold unpleasant odours so make the most of what you have by getting the carpets cleaned. If they are wearing thin, pull them up. Bare floorboards and a rug can be a cost effective alternative or re-carpet using a cost effective foam backed option.


10. Choose the right Estate Agent.

By reading this page you are already making a move in the right direction, make sure that your agent is a member of the NAEA and the Ombudsmen so they are credible and accountable. This usually leads to them having an excellent reputation.

11. Get ready for the agent and the photos.

With the growing enthusiasm for buyers to use the internet to find property, photos are more important than ever. Buyers use external and internal photos to narrow down their choices. Not just to find a property to view, but to ELIMINATE property from the selection. Before your buyers even get to your door, your home maybe being eliminated from their search, and the next property is just one click away.

The room needs to be staged for the shot, to ensure you get the best photos published for your property. Be very selective and make the agent  publish the photos with the BEST lighting. Get internal shots taken in day light, otherwise the windows can look like big black boxes or all you see is curtains!

12. Best of Luck

Once on the market be patient, the agent will do everything they can to sell your home. Discuss any of the above points with them and remember they are happy to help.

Damien Cooke  Principal Cooke & Co