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British Media. Let’s have a change please!
Expensive free range chicken was tasteless!
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If you’ve sold your home before, or nosed around someone else’s, you’ll know that first impressions count. There’s a load of advice out there on how to get your house market-ready but Purplebricks wants to hear from you with your top tips for selling and what you look for when you view houses.
If you have grandchildren...how do you hide store all the toys?! What about redecorating? Is there a go-to paint colour? Maybe you do small things like having fresh bedding and flowers for house viewings? Or do you clean clean clean and clean again?
Here’s what Purplebricks have to say: “GNers, let’s talk kerb appeal. What gets you going or just gets your goat when you’re looking round a potential new property? Have you got any advice you could share on how to present your property for maximum impact? Share it with us.”
So, whatever your tips are for selling, share them on the thread below and everyone who comments will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).
Thanks and good luck
GNHQ
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I moved recently and cannot praise the Estate Agent enough, they chased the solicitor ofd us and all parties and really pushed everything through. Another must do is keep it going quickly with the solicitor, if they send you a form, complete it and return it the next day, pay any charges immediately, don't hang about at your end, there are enough delays. Also look for a reputable removal company, mine was excellent, I didn't lift a finger until they left the new house. Above all be calm and patient, it can be very stressful!
Congratulations to @Dormouse1940 whose name was pulled from the prize draw to win the £300 voucher!
Decluter and get rid of any unwanted furnitures, clothes and rubbish. Give the house a complete make over: new coat of neutral colour paint, and ensure the bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms are spotless with fresh bed linen and fresh flowers on the table. Make the house airy and welcoming with smell of fresh baked bread..
Make sure the front and back garden is neat and tidy and the lawn is mowed.
Apart from clean, tidy and pleasant smelling ensure the viewing is at the best time of day.
Choose quiet time when light is at its best. Check the weather forecast. Everywhere is better in the sunshine. Of course if you are not going to tidy the garden then go for snow!
Nice clean windows, tidy garden, no clutter and some flowers make a difference
Try to make your rooms appear as big as possible by tidying away clutter and unnecessary furniture (think minimalistic), and having light coloured walls. An unpleasant smelling house will also be offputting. Make sure that the outside of your house is as neat as possible - if someone doesn't tend to the upkeep of their frontage, it may give the impression that they won't maintain the rest of the house and you don't want people to be put off before they've even crossed the threshold.
Place yellow flowers around your home, apparently this colour is supposed to induce feelings of 'spending money' and 'wealth' you never know it might just give potential buyers a little push!!
If you are not in a rush for a sale and can hold out, do so, or try putting you house into and auction and setting the minimum amount you will take, I did this twice and it worked for me.
A clean and tidy house and garden
A welcoming seller who gives the prospective buyer some space
An agent who gives an honest brochure with good realistic photographs
And a house for sale that gives the interested viewer that excited feeling that feeds their imagination and sadly there is no preparation for that!
Having bought and sold many houses over 50 years declutter is one of the best bits of advice I can give. Put yourself in the position of a potential buyer. Does the house from the outside look well kept? Lawns etc tidy. No toys etc in the front garden. Clean windows ( fresh flowers on a inside window ledge for example make the house look "loved") Keep any pets out of the way not all people love them! Remember what you looked for when you first viewed it, point out additions or improvements you have had done. If you have lovely neighbours tell them. Make sure you check the agents details of your house in case anything has been missed. I could go on and on. Most importantly open the door with a smile on your face and a warm welcome.
I would say that to tidy away clutter from everywhere is a priority. Then polish and vacuum (I am always impressed when you can see the lines of the vacuum?). Fresh flowers , the pot of coffee smelling wonderful and maybe bake some bread! The house will smell so welcoming.
If you can, make sure the walls are a neutral colour and the garden isn’t too much of a mess. Also putting flowers out and giving the home tour yourself...
We did the usual things to sell, vanilla on a baking sheet in the oven to create a nice smell. New coat of paint and soft lighting. People said that they loved our wall lights, which we’ dimmer switched’ to soft.
Declutter, declutter then declutter again. Then just to be sure declutter again. People always love a sense of space so they can fit all their possesions into their new home
Firstly, walk around your house (from kerb to back fence) as if you are a potential buyer, and have an honest look at it.
Kerb appeal - the house should look attractive, should not look as though old people live there unless price is very low!(I'm old, so am free to say this.)
Garden - make it look immaculate, and if possible, as if it needs little attention.
House - immaculate, and decluttered. It should look as if there is plenty of space. If you have grandchildren's toys, tidy most of them away, just leave a few on show. If necessary ask friends/family to store stuff for you until after the move.
Make sure the house is well presented for the photographs.
If you have pets, ensure the house does not smell, and if necessary try and have dog or cat out of the house for any viewings. I was once attacked by a Siamese cat when viewing a house, and needless to say, it did not endear the house to me!
Be able to pass on local information regarding shops, GP, schools, churches, etc to give to viewers. Have information and guarantees about the house to hand so that you can answer potential questions.
I have never struggled to sell a house, having moved quite a few times. Start by speaking to your estate agent and ask his/hers honest opinion on what potential buyers in your area are looking for. Obviously take their advise on the price. Then tidy up, put excess stuff in the loft but keep your home "homely". I don't believe that making your home look like a show house appeals to as many as one might think. Make sure everything is super clean, and then sit back and wait!!
My daughter sent her husband to live with his parents until the house was sold! He’s very untidy and she couldn’t take the stress of keeping it tidy with him in it! House sold in 2 weeks. She let him back home after that lol 
Only positive varian is that house prices everywhere will be likewise affected. I think London prices are definitely dropping. BTW hasn’t this thread run its course now with everyone repeating the same stuff over & over??
Always make sure the agent you are selling with puts a floor plan with clear measurements in both imperial and metric. We are in the process of moving ourselves and the number of properties that we have initially looked at online and straightaway rejected, simply because we cannot see how the house flows from lack of a plan, or if it will be large enough because they have"nt included the measurements either in details or floor plan.
If you are moving a few hundred miles as we are, it is not easy or convenient to just make appts to view when the property you might consider lacks in initial essential details.
Now, I'm not one to go on about brexit (the utter disaster that threatens the future of our children and grandchildren), but I do wonder whether brexit worries are affecting the housing market.
We are actually right now trying to sell a house (perfectly OK house priced at less than a similar one sold early in 2016 before the fraudulent referendum), and we may have to drop the price a lot because of the imminent disaster. I hope the drop may not have to be as disastrous as the forecasts.
A beautiful entrance hall with fresh smelling flowers to please all. Soft classical music is a must, shiny surfaces with no dust. Friendly faces and lots of floor spaces. Doors wide open creating airflow, fueng shway don't you know. Mirrors are vital, they bounce around light which is completely right. Plants and greenery to bring the outside indoors, now you have finished your chores.
Don't be emotionally attached! Selling a your home can feel like exposing yourself to criticism in someways especially if you are handling the viewings yourself. It is better to look upon it as a business transaction, you are selling something to the highest bidder for mutual benefit
I guess they did varian but a bit of honesty would have saved us much time wasting when we were house hunting.
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