If you’re planning on selling, you’re no doubt thinking about how you can get the best price for your property and secure a sale as quickly as possible……

While big home improvements such as new kitchens and bathrooms undoubtedly help, the good news is there are quick and inexpensive ways to make your home more appealing to buyers:

1. How does the outside look? It’s the first thing a potential buyer will see, so look critically at the outside of your house. Does the front door need painting? Are plants and trees neatly trimmed? Is the lawn freshly mown? Boost your kerb appeal with plants either side of the front door. You can get amazingly realistic artificial ones that don’t need maintaining.

2. Depersonalise your décor

You may like that purple wall with the green stripes but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea! Buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living there so you might want to paint that wall a neutral colour!

3. Declutter !

Too much stuff makes your home look small and crowded and makes it hard for a buyer to imagine themselves living there. Take a really good look around and be honest with yourself about which areas look messy. Tidy shelves and if possible only leave a few decorative items. Remove all your kids’ drawings stuck to the wall or fridge! Put away knick knacks that are cluttering up window sills and other surfaces. Tidy inside cupboards too as buyers often open cupboard doors. Stash stuff neatly in boxes. If this is a big job, break it up by doing a room a day.

4. Deep Clean

Dust those skirting boards, scrub that grotty grout, clean those windows inside and out …… make your home positively sparkle ✨

5. Make sure you’re photo ready ….

When the agent comes round to take photos make sure beds are made, clothes are not left lying around on the floor, cushions are plumped and curtains are opened wide to maximise light levels. Put a vase of fresh flowers in the lounge and kitchen and a couple of clean fluffy towels folded in the bathroom.

6. Accessorise

Some well placed candles, plants, artificial flowers, pictures and decorative storage boxes can really make a difference. You could also try putting up a statement mirror. If you’re happy to spend a bit more a coffee machine is a great addition to the kitchen and you can enjoy using it while you’re selling the house! Turn your patio into an outdoor entertaining space with a garden table and chairs accessorised with some nice cushions and a couple of plants.