House Doctor
November 9, 2008
By John cagney
“House doctoring” is the phrase often used to describe the final preparations made for viewing a house for sale. Here are a few tips...
Clutter
Cluttered rooms are small rooms. Remove excess furniture, decoration and empty storage spaces as much as possible. Remember viewers will be interested in garage and attic spaces so try not to pack everything in there – if possible find somewhere outside the property to store excess stuff.
Neutral
People viewing your property will differ largely in how they want their home to appear – don’t try to anticipate their tastes. Your property should be as neutral as possible, so that your viewers can project their individual preferences onto it. This doesn’t mean it has to lack style – just avoid bold or potentially offensive deco. Neutral colours will also help to increase the apparent size of a room.
Clean
This should be obvious, but many will be leaving that gruelling deep clean to the last moment. Think of it as therapy – remove all traces of your inhabitancy from the property before you sell! Pay attention to windows and all those nooks and crannies the viewer WILL check.
Outside
First impressions are vital – often a viewer will be reaching a subconscious decision before entering the property. If your garden is not maintained do some work to make it look neat – this way a viewer can imagine its potential. If you have a good garden, focus on it by presenting it at its very best. Paint the exterior if necessary – peeling paint gives an impression of a run-down property, while a neat paint job can suggest structural and fundamental soundness. Make sure the front door looks well, the lock works smoothly and there isn’t an unnerving creak as you open it.
Final Touches
Add some well-placed houseplants which will soften and freshen rooms. Address any odours – ask someone else to do a smell-check in case you’ve become accustomed to any unusual smells! If viewing in the evening think about lighting – lamps are a more attractive source of light than overheads. Add cushions and throws to sofas and see if it looks more appealing.
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