Use your imagination!

Toilet rolls banned! ?

Did you have economy packs of toilet rolls lining the walls of your bathroom? If not it seems an odd request. I have seen pictures on the internet when I wonder what people are thinking, clothes airers with drying washing, kitchens with dirty dishes in the sink, kids toys everywhere. These just say I don't care so it makes me wonder what maintenance the property has had and would make me wary.

Also I'm sure I've read that the smell of coffee brewing or bread in the oven and vases of fresh flowers are supposed to help sell a house? How is that achieved if the kitchen is bare and stark?

I think a full toilet foll and folded clean towels morove the sporesrance of a barhroom though probably toothpaste etc sgould be hidden from view. What if they wanted to use the loo? Likewise a cleAn kettle and toaster and folded matching tea towel etc make a kitchen more attractive . You have to imagine using these rooms! Most brochures advertising bathrooms etc have folded towels etc in the Picture! (I know as we have just had our bathroom done)!

I agree and rationally speaking you are right. However, watch a TV property programme all the way through. 'Location, Location, Location' is good for this purpose.

However much couples say they want a project or are not bothered about the state of a house they (and the viewer) cannot fail to be affected positively by the sight of a house in a good state of decoration and which looks clean and tidy.

We might have been influenced to see in these terms by TV shows or other cultural pressures but see them we do.

If you want to sell your house I should look at it as if you were a punter viewing a 'Kirsty & Phil' property and declutter.

Now living in our ninth home. Never once have we had to do any of that nonsense. Nexr move we will do as we have always done: show it neat and as tidy as possible. Any agent who disagrees will not be used by us. We will not be selling some vacant luxury but a home to live in,

It all seems a bit extreme. I would definitely make sure that beds were made and floors were cleared of debris , but toilet paper? Sorry but if a house looks too pristine I find myself wondering what they are hiding. ....

Nanny you are paying THEM! You don't have to hide the toilet roll if you don't want to. Apart from a clean and a general de-clutter, I think the biggest factor is getting the price right. Some estate agents like to get the contract by flattering you and suggesting a higher price, knowing you will be forced to lower it. Although they get a percentage, the difference is not that much to them, and it means they get the business, as opposed to the estate agent down the road who gives you a realistic value. Do a bit of research on similar houses nearby and be realistic. It will save you time and, very possibly, money, in the long run.

Lillie I went out for viewings, until the third viewing by the eventual purchaser. She said she had fallen in love with it, I gave her a hug and the deal was done!
Phew!

People have to be spoon fed every experience in life now, egged on by blasted TV programmes, that exert mind control over what is after all a purchase of something you will be creating in your own image anyway.

My dad used to take us house viewing as a weekend treat when we were kids, didn't even make appts back then he just turned up and if there was no one home he looked through the letter box (once there was someone looking back as they were hiding behind the door)...all part of the fun back then. I knew what a corner plot' involved before I started school.

I have sold 18 houses and never put a toilet roll away......

Toilet roll is a part of our life style, and the dog (he sits in the car during viewings) and our bins are there for all to see, another part of our lifestyle....what lives are the prospective buyers living ???? No dogs, no toilet rolls, that's not living is it ???

What a pain it is when you are trying to sell - I used to fling piles of mags and newspapers, dogs bed and anything that was making the place look (even more) untidy into the car boot while people viewed!
That said, the house we bought was sad, dingy and unloved inside (couple splitting up - the atmosphere was not good either) but we have always seen beyond decor and it was the location, size and price that did it, as I am sure it does for most people. Never been asked to move the loo roll for photos - how bizarre. Don't we all use them?

When I was 7, I was disappointed that the toy double-decker bus I saw when we looked round a house, wasn't there when we moved in.

Personally if I were to view a house online or visiting the only things that would but me off is a house that is damp, smells strongly of cigarette smoke or is extremely dirty and unkempt. Other than that when whoever moves out they take away all the things when they move so you move the exact stuff back in !

Staying with daughter in Australia at moment. Their system is unusual. One appointment of 15 mins for ALL prospective buyers - Agent shows everyone around and house holders must be out!

Bodies in bed, even in armchairs are a no, no! More than one person doing the "showing round" is off-putting, it gets confusing with all the irrelevant comments chipping in.
What do people think about going out and letting the agent do the viewings?

A relative of mine paid a knockdown price for a house that had been left in a horrendous mess.
After a lot of work cleaning then decorating, they had a lovely house.

Maybe that teenager was sick of being made to get out of bed and hide somewhere with the dog!

On Escape To The Country all the houses viewed are presented like show homes.
I don't think people now do have much imagination, and expect all to look perfect.
Years ago, when viewing houses, we took no notice of clutter, just looked at room sizes, location, garden etc.
We sold our last house 9 years ago and knocked ourselves out on the presentation of it, and it sold within the month ( in spite of the agent warning us it could take a while)
I urged a friend to do the same when she was selling last year, and it sold in two days!
So, yes, it can make a vast difference.

It seems people these days seem to be buying alifestyle not a home, they really do believe they can buy champagne on beer money or they want what they see on social media. sheeple

When we viewed this house in 1985, it was in a right old state. The fridge was in the back lobby, where we have our fridge freezer, but it was piled with newspapers up to the ceiling, the coffee table in what should be the dining room was covered in newspapers, the kitchen sink had dirty pots in a bowl of filthy water, and the carpets and curtains, which were being left in the house, were threadbare! We still bought it though. The only photos in the paper and the agents were outside, back and front, none of the inside. And the "man" of the house never moved from his armchair, his wife showed us round.

It's 30 years since we bought this house and back then the estate only took a photo of the house from the front. Just one photo. There was of course a written description of each room which was considered enough. I'm glad we are not selling - I don't like the idea of everyone looking at all our rooms. Never mind the toilet rolls, just remember to hide your jewellery!!