Creating the perfect open house or open for inspection requires commitment, eye for detail and a willingness to put in the hard work.
Short-cuts will only hurt the chances of finding a buyer and getting your desired price.
There are a handful of little traps that are easily avoided but by falling into them you will turn off a buyer, lose a sale, or even take away your momentum in a price negotiation. Take note of these:
I can’t find you: If a prospective buyer can’t find your property, they’re lost. And so are you. Put a number on the gate or fence so it’s clear from the roadside.
Let there be light: Don’t starve your buyers of natural light. It gives the impression of space and airiness. Get furniture away from the windows and pull back the blinds and curtains. Check the windows are clean. You’ll be amazed how grime on window panes can filter the light and detract from the rest of your home.
De-clutter… and de-clutter again: Buyers love the feeling of space. Ultimately, it’s a major component of what they’re buying. So, don’t bung it up with furniture so a walk-through feels like tackling an obstacle course. Create comfortable, clear walking paths through your home and avoid the common objection of “it’s too small”.
Freshen up: Give your home an airing before an inspection. Smells can be trapped in any home, especially after a long winter insulated against the cold. Common odours that turn off buyers include cigarettes, fireplaces, cooking and, most commonly, pets. Open the windows and spray quality air fresheners or use an oil burner to neutralise this negative impact.
Bedside story: The oddest issues stay with buyers. One can be your taste in furnishings. Agents say bed linen has a huge impact on what buyers remember. So, get rid of the Union Jack bedset, the floral scenes or whatever you personally like, and dress the bed for success with clean, crisp white linen and a contrasting throw rug.
Keep it clean: Possibly the most common sin is to take a short-cut with cleaning. Don’t – it can be fatal for your inspection and even your whole campaign. Windows are often the forgotten part of the house to clean. Run a cloth around the seals of the windows, too. Bathrooms and kitchens need to be spotless. Vacuum – everywhere. The garden can be a great asset, especially for family buyers, but not if it’s ill-kempt. Mow the lawn, tidy the flowerbeds and put away the flotsam of garden tools and kids’ toys.
Bin the bins: Get your council bins out of sight. It leaves a bad impression and eats up the feeling of space on the property. Everyone knows you have bins, they don’t need to see them.
Don’t go overboard: Some sellers get fanatical about making the right impression, but it can backfire. For example, setting the dining table for a silver-service dinner looks ridiculous. Also, taking away too much furniture in the de-cluttering process leaves the impression of an empty, cold house. That’s not good, either. Keep perspective and you’ll give yourself the best chance of a sale.