Easy Ways To Help Your Home Sell Itself

Yorkshire Post - 12th September 2007 - Life & Style Section: Homes

Interiors

"Many house sellers are wasting time and money, when a few changes could have the buyers flocking", says interior designer Jamie Hempsall


When most people sell their car they make sure it is spotless inside, waxed & t-cut to perfection outside to get the best possible price. Why then do people think that when selling their home they can just open the doors and expect the first buyer to fall instantly in love with it? Our home may be our commonly known as potential purchasers!).

With a few simple tips (no, not fresh coffee– too many people are aware of it) and a little investment you can be streaks ahead when putting your house on the market.

Most buyers make decisions based on emotion and do not see the potential in a home, unless it is staring them in the face. That spare double bedroom with an old ironing board, sacks of rubbish and the orange and heliotrope wallpaper will be viewed as a box room unless it is presented tidily, with double bed – confirming how to use the room and, indeed, that it will actually fit a double bed!

Firstly, take an objective view about your house. Forget you live there and see it through a stranger’s eyes. Is it endearing charm or messy domesticity? A minimalist masterpiece or a sterile shell? Don’t overlook the outside no matter how great the interior, flaked paint on the front door or unkempt grass ensures the purchaser never even makes it inside!

Exterior paint (windows and doors) should be freshened to a good standard (scrapped back, primed and filled – not just a quick coat over the top). The front door should be clean, in good condition, painted a welcoming colour such as green or brown (avoid red) and the door furniture should be polished to perfection. Garden areas (back & front) must be neat and trimmed.

You need to show your home has space de-clutter – if you do not need it pack it away in the loft or store it elsewhere it’s only until you move. However, do not leave things too sparse – a few nice touches, such as bowls of fresh flowers, neat vases and well framed prints make it feel like a home.

Ensure your house is spotless & kept so. Just because you have children who are messy, does not mean a perspective buyer must make allowances. All rooms must be tidy: beds well made, pillows and duvets plumped. Fresh smells are a must – don’t go over board with room sprays, but do air those teenage bedrooms every day and move dog beds out of small rooms. A neutral odour spray can be a big friend at a time like this! Using a carpet cleaner can refresh the look and get rid of unwanted dirt and aromas.

Interior decoration is paramount. Past surveys have shown that an “unfavourable” interior colour scheme can knock up to £3,000 off the value of a home. Highly personalised decoration schemes (vibrant colour choices or novelty themes) should be neutralised and your home presented as a blank canvas. Orange and red are to be avoided, light colours (particularly magnolia and oatmeal) add to a feeling of space and cleanliness. Woodwork should be scrubbed and touched up where appropriate.

Yes, it does take time and a little money. YES, it will be a complete pain until you sell, BUT…..you will sell quicker than your ill-presented competition, valuable mortgage payments on a house you wish to leave and get on with the next stage of your life quicker. Now who can put a price on that?

Jamie Hempsall, one of the region’s leading interior designers, can be found at www.jamiehempsall.com