Kitchen

The kitchen is often the first room a prospective buyer will visit, usually irrespective of the layout of the property.

1. It goes without saying that the kitchen, including appliances, should be clean.
2. Work surfaces should be clear of unnecessary items.
3. Drawers and cupboards should be tidy and not too full.
4. Polish chrome/stainless steel.
5. Don’t have unwashed items on view or in the sink.

Bathrooms / w/c

Of course, as with the kitchen, cleanliness is key with a bathroom / w/c. Several of the points, above, will apply. Also:

1. Freshen up by airing the space. Do not use overpowering scents if they can be avoided.
2. Watch out for ugly shower curtains, etc.
3. Remove any mildew.
4. Remove used or old towels.

Storage spaces

…should be just that: places for storage. Not just junk space. We all break this rule, but when it comes to selling your property you should obviously display it in its best light.

Buyers are always keen to understand what the storage capacity of a property is. They will (and should) look!  This is another area which is crucial for London property buyers, particularly for flats and other properties for which storage can be a challenge.

Perception “is” reality. If your prospective buyer sees a storage area which looks small because it’s full of ‘junk’, then (despite what you may say) it’s a small area with limited storage capabilities!

If you find during this process that you do indeed have too much stuff, or unnecessary items, why not do yourself a favour and either get rid of it or sell it on eBay.  It will be a lot easier to do that now than when you’re selling the property when you have a hundred other things to consider.

Carpets

Properly cleaning carpets can not only improve the situation for you in the meantime (!) but can be instrumental in impressing a buyer.

You can achieve the result yourself by buying a cleaning fluid which can be used with a vacuum cleaner or, even better, hiring a specific cleaning device (see Vax for details of probably the best-known tool).

The equivalent for wooden flooring is having it sanded and varnished, if needed, but this can be quite a big job to take on. It may, however, be well worth it.

Painting and filling

This is also a relatively easy, cheap (if you do it yourself) and effective means of improving the look of a property’s interior.

One good approach is to pick a pleasant, neutral colour and stick to it. Beware of mixing different shades of the same colour, whether in gloss or matt paints, as it can look almost as bad as having different colours which are poorly matched.

Check that any small holes, gaps, cracks etc. are properly filled prior to painting.

MORE...