Selling A House Tips  

by Tina Dean

When prospective buyers visit your home for sale their first impression should be a house that says 'welcome' and should appear to be a comfortable family home, it does not have to be a show piece. There will be other houses on the market so you need to make an excellent first impression

Here 10 selling a house tips to prepare your house for sale

1. Stand on the roadside and study your house, make a note of anything that needs maintenance. Check fences, house walls, roof and guttering, replace letter box and house numbers if shabby.

2. Clean windows, outside furniture, doors, screen doors and awnings etc

3. Get busy in the garden, weed, trim edges, remove dead or unhealthy plants and replace if necessary, put mulch on the garden, put gravel on an unsealed driveway. Replace door mats, clean outside entertaining area, arrange chairs & table neatly, remove any rubbish or broken things. If you have a pool, clean it until it's sparkling. Sweep paths, patios, verandas etc.

4. Walk through your house and note anything that needs attention. Check for squeaky doors, dripping taps, cracked tiles, dirty carpet, broken light globes, door locks not working properly, touch up paint work etc.

5. Clean everything possible in your house, get the carpets dry cleaned professionally, remove stains in the bathroom, kitchen, wash all walls, light fittings and accessories and furniture etc.

6. Eliminate clutter in every room, throw out or donate unwanted items, buy some cheap shelves, baskets or boxes to organize some of the cluttered items. Stack some into cupboards that does not need to be seen. A neat, uncluttered look is going to appeal much more to your buyers.

7. If you have pets, clean up the litter trays, kennel, cat & dog hair, on the inspection days keep your pets under control, some people do not appreciate pets.

8. Try to use mainly neutral colours as some people may not like bright gaudy patterns etc, your buyers will be imagining this as being there own home and may be turned off by colours or patterns that take over the room.

9. Make sure you use adequate lighting, use mirrors to reflect light and check all light bulbs.

10. Close to the open day - Open curtain & blinds to let as much light in as possible, arrange furniture so room is not cluttered, place some healthy indoor plants in a few rooms, a few scatter cushions on the beds and sofa can adds bit of colour, a few soft toys can be displayed in the kids rooms, turn off your television & radio. Bake some fresh cookies or cakes and have a drink available for your visitors.

Answer honestly when a prospective buyer asks a question about your house or neighbourhood.

It is best to leave during open inspection times.

Be prepared to allow the agent to show people through your house at any time, but if you can make a set time on the weekends to limit the surprise visits.

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