How To Sell Your House to Potential Buyers

•    First of all, it’s important to remember the old mantra that first impressions count. If a prospective owner arrives outside a property and it doesn’t tug at the heartstrings instantly, then it’s likely any chance of a sale will evaporate before the person viewing has even crossed the threshold. Therefore, it’s important to spruce up the exterior of your property so it makes an instant, favourable impression on a buyer.

•    However, don’t be too extrovert in your design plans for the outside. The exterior may just need updating rather than a radical overhaul in an unsightly colour. Walk the length of the street and compare your property to other homes in the neighbourhood. Ask yourself which designs make a good impression and try and incorporate these new ideas into the update of the exterior. Sometimes the problem of the first impression can be solved with a simple lick of paint; for other properties more extensive work may be required before a buyer sustains interest beyond the opening exchanges.

•    Enter the mindset of a buyer. This will help you to become a lot more critical of any potential problems the house may be exhibiting. Take the time to spot those tiny details that can cause a buyer big dilemmas by attending to mundane tasks such as clearing out gutters, smartening up the garden and checking security features. It’s natural to become a little lax over trifling concerns when you are settled into a daily routine; as a buyer these problems are lodged firmly at the back of the mind.

•    Strike the right balance when you try to sell your house. Ideally, you want the home to be clean, tidy and neutral for when prospective buyers search round – but this doesn’t mean you should rid the house of any personality. Make sure the house is empty enough as not to distract a buyer, but not soulless – the buyer wants to get a feel for the property as a functioning home. Try and visualise how the previous owner presented the house to you in the first place as this will give you some idea of the balance needed.

•    Preparing your house for sale provides an invaluable opportunity to clear out all that clutter you have stacked up over your years in the house. Don’t miss this chance to make a fresh start when you move to a new house. Not only will a cluttered house deter potential buyers, taking the time to declutter effectively will help focus the mind before your next move.

•     In the weeks leading up to a prospective sale, try and keep pets away from the property. It might be a wrench to be separated from your beloved dog or cat for a few weeks, but they could hamper your chances of a sale. Living with pets, it can be hard to notice pet odours, but this will be the first drawback a prospective buyer will pick up on viewing a property. Ask family members or friends whether they can look after the pets for a couple of weeks, and then clean the house thoroughly to remove any pet smells or marks.

•    Finally, if you are using an estate agent to sell your property, it’s best not to get involved with viewings unless the prospective buyer has any direct questions. Remember, estate agents have one main objective – to sell a property – and your intervention in a viewing may result in you losing the sale. Your presence could also prove a distraction for a buyer looking to visualise a property as their prospective home. When you sell your house, sometimes it’s best to let the buyer have some space to mull things over.

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