When selling or renting out your property you want the best price possible so it’s important to take the time to make sure it’s well presented for viewings.
If your property is already immaculate, then it may be as simple as a tidy up and clean, but for others it may require a few more changes to get the place ready for sale. Here are our tips to get you started…
1. Create a welcoming entrance
Your front door is the first thing potential buyers will see when they visit your property, so remember to make it inviting. Paint the door if needed, replace any damaged hardware, keep decorations minimal and declutter the entrance area.
2. The kitchen
Clear your workspaces of clutter, jars and food. Remove the washing up liquid bottles, all cleaning materials and tea towels. Clean everything off the worktops to help make the kitchen look more spacious. Don’t forget to tidy your cupboards as storage is something every buyer wants in a new home. Last but not least, clean all appliances including the oven.
3. The bathroom
Ensure the bathroom is tidy and spotlessly clean, everything must look immaculate. Don’t leave the toilet seat up, keep the lid closed… always! Remove the everyday shampoo bottles, medications, laundry bins and any spare loo rolls. Something as simple as adding luxurious towels can instantly transform a bathroom.
4. The bedrooms
Make sure all beds are neat and tidy, unmade beds make a room look messy and this can be distracting to buyers. Clear away any clothes and shoes. Make sure bedside tables are tidy and nothing is peeping out from under the bed. Clear off anything that is stored on wardrobe tops.
5. General areas
Clean your windows. De-clutter and get rid of any items that detract from the rooms… all clutter must go! Make sure your curtains and blinds are open. Hide away any wires that look unsightly. Tidy away any children’s toys and signs of pets.
Carpets should be shampooed and treated for stains. Any flooring that is stained, damaged or worn beyond repair should be removed and replaced. Hardwood floors that are scratched or have lost their sheen should be refinished.
6. Outside your home
Make the outside look appealing. Move your car from the drive or house front. Tidy up the garden, cut the grass, clean the patio and sweep away any leaves. Move wheelie bins and dustbins out of sight.
7. Remove personalised items
Remove all your personal items, let prospective buyers see a clear home as this will help them to imagine themselves living there. Even having too many pictures on the wall can clutter a space making the room feel smaller.
8. Too much furniture
Having too much furniture in a room will make it feel smaller than it is. If you are able to, rearrange or remove the furniture to help make the room look more spacious. Place the unwanted furniture in the garage or better still hire a storage unit.
9. Eliminate odours
Make sure your property smells as good as it looks! Smell can make either a positive or negative impact on a home. The house needs to be fresh and inviting, it’s very important to do your best to eliminate any odours from pets or cigarettes.
10. Finish projects & repairs
Now’s the time to complete any home improvement projects you have under way and make any necessary repairs to your property. Freshen up fixtures such as light fixtures, bathroom mirrors, taps, showers etc. All of these can be replaced for very little money and make a huge difference in terms of visual appeal.
11. Always be ready for viewings
Remember, your property needs to be ready for viewings at all times and often at short notice, so always make sure it’s presentable. Always have the relevant property information to hand so that you can confidently answer any queries buyers might have. Things like the cost of the Council Tax, utility charges, how old is the boiler, service charge payments and lease terms are often common questions.
For more landlord advice, check out the other posts on The Landlord Link blog. If you’re thinking of selling your rental property, you can sell for free on The Landlord Link – list your property today.
The Landlord Link has rental properties for sale all over the UK – take a look at our tenanted property for sale listings.