Preparing your home for sale - Part 2

Last month we discussed ways to prepare the exterior of your home for sale. Now we look at the interior spaces. The following are some suggestions for some relatively low cost improvements and repairs you might consider for your interior spaces.

Inside your home:

• Do a complete spring clean, removing all the junk from your house! Store it in a friend's house, or give it to a charity shop.
• A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference: choose light colours to brighten up dark rooms. Also, clean up dirty or damaged wallpaper, tiles and ceilings.
• Make sure all the fixtures and fittings are in good working order, and clean. That means chipped door handles, torn fly screen’s, broken window latches, dirty light switches, dripping taps etc.
• Do doors and windows open and shut with ease?
• Polish your wooden and tiled floors and have your carpets professionally cleaned.
• Make sure your bathroom, laundry and kitchen are spotless.
• Repair your heating, air-conditioning and plumbing, or any other appliances that are to be included in the sale.

And at the last minute …
On the day of the inspection, consider the following tips:

• Have you cleaned up everywhere? That means inside cupboards, under beds and behind sofas.
• A few finishing touches to the garden can also make a difference, so rake up those fallen leaves and branches. You might put the sprinklers on to give the lawn a wet, healthy appearance.
• Buyers are often concerned with how much light a home receives. Open all curtains and blinds, and consider using some artificial lighting in very dark rooms.
• Make sure your home feels comfortable. If it's cold, heat the rooms, especially if you have an open fire. If it's hot, make sure your home is cool: if you only have fans, consider borrowing an air-conditioner.
• Put out flowers in vases, particularly near the front door where first impressions are made. But don't clutter the place with decorations. Each of us has different tastes, and it is harder for a prospective buyer to imagine what the home might be like if it is filled with your own idiosyncratic style.
• A home that smells beautiful will seem much more attractive to buyers. Make sure your home is properly aired. Put out potpourri, or even bake something in the oven the morning of the inspection. Avoid incense and other strong aromas.
• Have you removed all your valuables?
• Don’t hang about on the open day – remove yourself from the scene. Never offer advice or information to the agent or buyers – you’ve employed the agent to do that!