If you’re thinking of moving, or if your home is for sale already, then you’re probably thinking about what you need to do to prepare it for viewings and ready the property for sale. Usually this
means clearing away clutter, finishing all simple DIY jobs, cleaning the entire
place from top to bottom, even laying the table in the dining room.
But sometimes more substantial decorating needs to be done –
remember that you’ve got to think about your house as a product, not your
home. It can be difficult – and
sometimes emotional – but it is worth it in the end! Here’s how to avoid some of the most common
mistakes that sellers make:
Bathrooms
Clean the grout, if that doesn’t work then definitely replace
or refresh it. If tiles are uneven or
cracked you may want to completely re-tile, just don’t buy anything overly
expensive. Remember that replacing worn
vanity units and painting grubby walls will go a long way – as long as you’re
careful about colours! You might love avocado
and hot pink, but it’s probably worth waiting till you’re in your new home for that
kind of colour scheme...
Kitchens
Don’t spend money on top of the range appliances – it simply
won’t help sell your house. If your
cupboard units are looking tired, consider new fronts rather than entirely new
units, they’ll do the same job for a fraction of the price. Make sure that any new lino is fitted
properly – no curling edges.
Carpets
If your living room carpet is covered in red wine and other,
perhaps unidentifiable stains, then yes, you probably do want to look at
replacing it. But as with kitchen units,
there’s no need to go overboard – a simple, and relatively cheap piece will do
if deep cleaning or carpet shampoo won’t bring it to life.
Bedrooms
Whilst your child might love animal prints and huge murals,
it’s entirely possible that one of your prospective buyers wants to turn that
room into a study – and the decoration might not let them imagine that. Where possible go with relatively neutral colours.
Simple, clean blinds or light curtains are the most
effective choice here – heavy or garishly printed curtains will block out light
and prevent the buyer from imagining the house as their home. Similarly, a few cushions will set off a
room, whilst too many will make it feel like a soft play area.
Walls
A good coat of magnolia is a cliché – but it’s a cliché for
a reason. Bright red walls might look
wonderful to you – but to your buyer it’ll feel like your house, not their
future home.
The easiest way to avoid mistakes like this is to follow the
golden rule: Imagine yourself as the buyer.
If you’re viewing lots of properties for sale at the same time as selling, think
about the houses you didn’t like. What
put you off?
If you’ve got any golden rules for decorating to sell, then
send us your tips via the comments section, we would love to hear them!
