A Checklist for a Five Star Viewing

You make think it’s the living room that makes the best impression on would-be home owners, but in fact you’re best spending time rejuvenating your kitchen and bathroom.

These rooms get a lot of wear and tear and are most susceptible to water damage.

When people look at these rooms, their thoughts are concerned around how much work they’re going to have to do to get them just so.

Why not present a space that needs very little additional TLC?

We’re not saying go out and have an entire suite fitted, but concentrate on those details that can really turn people off: flaking paint, unsightly piping, mildew in the grout and a loo seat that’s seen better days.

You can easily replace a loo seat, get rid of the dated 90s toilet seat covers and swap your threadbare towels for some nice new ones from the supermarket.

A lick of paint on any flaking walls should give it a fresh appearance (remove the flakes first!), and adding a fresh coat of sealant around the bathtub deals with any ugly black spots.

Over time, buildings pick up wear and tear. We get used to our own spaces and learn to tolerate the idiosyncrasies (or we feel too lazy to repair them!) but to a potential buyer, these snags make a house look unloved and unwelcoming.

Don’t give people an excuse to turn your house down before they’ve had a good look around.

Get out your toolbox and start fixing any issues before you invite viewers in. And if it’s really not your forte, why not get a handyman for a few hours?

Then you can relax and think about something else!

When someone makes an offer, they’re going to commission a survey on your house.

This could bring up potential problems like wet rot, dry rot, faulty wiring, Japanese knotweed, subsidence and other structural problems.

While you might not be aware of some of these, others you’ll have a pretty good idea of, such as damp in your living room.

Repairing all these areas in advance might not be financially viable, but at least you can be aware of them when you set your asking price.

It makes sense to put all your effort into improving your house when you’re hoping to put your house up for sale.

However, it makes sense to save money for the outside too. 95% of people look outside when they’re viewing a property, so gardens are pretty important. If you take some time to cut the grass, weed the patio and give the outside a general spruce up, it will pay dividends when attracting a prospective buyer.

Ensure the windows are gleaming and that your home is letting in plenty of light for a more spacious feel.

Are you lucky enough to live in an older property with original features in your house? If so, make sure you give them space to shine, and point them out to any viewers and estate agents who’ll be giving a tour of the house.

Original fireplaces and unusual features pique the interest of 75% of visitors so it’s a good idea to give them special prominence.

A staggering 4 out of 5 property viewers want to know more about your storage spaces, so it’s essential to keep them tidy so your visitors can have a peak at them. This includes garages and airing cupboards. If you’ve been using these spaces to accumulate your clutter, now’s a great time to have a good sort out, or consider off-site storage.