Date Published 01 February 2016
Preparing your property for sale can be a daunting prospect, particularly in the prime London property market, where high worth buyers and renters have high expectations. Well-presented houses in Holland Park, Notting Hill and Kensington can command significantly higher asking prices, generating more offers and generally leading to a more successful sale process.
Here are a few tips for making the most of your property:
Make your home really sparkle
Consider a professional clean – and be sure to do this before any photographs are taken.
Get carpets and upholstery steam cleaned, and maximise light by cleaning all windows, inside and out.
Kitchens and bathrooms are very important to buyers so it's worth making an effort in these rooms. Clean or replace grout, and consider replacing old taps and fittings which can give an instant update.
Fresh folded towels and brand new, packaged products and cosmetics can give a bathroom a luxury feel.
De-clutter but leave some personality
People want to imagine themselves living in your home – so show them an idealised version of your lifestyle.
Display your most attractive objects, then be ruthless and get rid of all superfluous accumulated clutter.
Box up any personal and sentimental things and store, but avoid cramming things into cupboards because homebuyers will often look at those areas, and jam-packed storage give the impression of lack of space. It's far better to take boxes to a friend's house, or hire a self-storage unit. Then clear out all the junk that you've been meaning to get rid of – you'll need to do it when you move, so get a head start!
Freshen up
A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference to a room. Choose light, neutral colours that will go with anything and everything.
Replace tired tiles and fittings in bathrooms and kitchens and consider painting or replacing dated cupboard and cabinet doors.
Sort out your lighting – make sure they all work. Strategically placed table and floor lamps and can do wonders to brighten dark corners and enhance features of a room.
Vases of fresh flowers lift a room and are worth the effort.
First impressions count
The exterior of your property is important, many buyers are put off before they even enter a property, so do as much as you can to make the outside as clean and tidy as possible
Hide bins, trim hedges, sweep paths.
Give your front door a smart new coat of paint. A pot either side of it, with flowers or topiary gives a great first impression, and have the added advantage of being portable, so you can take them to your next property!
These are some general tips which we hope you have found useful. At John Wilcox & Co, we take pleasure in advising each of our clients about the unique benefits of their home and how to present it to maximize its value.
Please give us a call today if we can be of assistance to you.
