1.

In general

• Clean everything
• Flowers are a nice touch
• Eliminate clutter wherever possible as this creates the impression of spaciousness

2.

Kitchen

• The kitchen is often considered the most important room of the house, pay particular attention to the cleanliness, layout and storage
• Make sure all appliances are spotless, odour-free and in good working condition
• Polish chrome surfaces
• Fix any dripping taps, loose cabinet hardware, and outdated or inefficient light fittings
• Tidy out drawers and cabinets

3.

Living and dining areas

• Make your home feel warm and cosy – consider running the heater or heat pump prior to the open home if there is a chill in the air
• Consider adding additional cushions and throw rugs on your sofa
• Set your table with good china – important for your photo shoot
• Turn on side lamps and increase the ambience

4.

Storage

• De-clutter! As a general rule take out half of what’s in the wardrobes and storage areas to make them look bigger
• Remove excess furniture, even if it’s only temporarily, to make rooms seem as spacious as possible
• Basement, attics and garages often end up as dumping grounds
• Make sure these areas are well organised and give prospective clients the impressions that there’s plenty of room for all their furniture and personal items

5.

Outside

• Your buyers will make their initial assessment of your property as soon as they set eyes on it so it pays to tidy up the grounds and create a neat and tidy entrance
• Mow the lawns, weed the gardens, trim back overgrown trees and shrubs
• Sweep up leaves and clean debris out of your gutters

6.

Walls and ceilings

• Repair any cracks in the walls or ceilings and repaint if necessary
• Strip outdated wall paper and replace or paint
• Clean finger marks off high-traffic areas and get rid of cobwebs

7.

Windows

• Clean windows inside and out
• Replace cracked glass, broken sashes and cords
• Remove and store any net curtains
• Open curtains to let in as much light as possible, especially if the view is a feature
• Wash or dryclean curtains or drapes if required

8.

Floors

• Carpeting has a major impact on the look of a home
• Vacuum thoroughly or have it professionally cleaned
• If it is badly worn, outdated or stained, consider having it replaced
• Check if wooden floors need to be refurbished
• Clean tile floors, and repair or replace cracked tiles

9.

Paint

• Take a good look at the paint on the inside and outside of your home. If it is cracking, peeling or chipping you need a fresh coat for your exterior. It may cost you a bit of time and money but may elevate your home from “fixer-upper” to “move in and enjoy.”
• Choose colours that are appropriate to the style of your house and that blend in well with the neighbourhood

10.

Roof

• Buyers will pay close attention to its condition
• Paint corrugated iron or clean tiles, fix leaky corroded downpipes and gutters. Inside, a watermarked ceiling is a sign to buyers that the roof has leaked – even if the cause has been repaired

11.

Open homes

• If you choose to have open homes, we recommend you and your pets are absent while they take place as this puts buyers at ease
• If you choose to stay, please let your sales consultant do the talking