So maybe it's time to do a little de-clutter, whether this is removing the excessive amount of coats hanging in the hallway (hopefully no longer needed over the next few months), or the number of pairs of shoes. The entrance hallway is such an important place to start, you don’t want to clutter their vision of what could be their potential new home from the moment they step inside.
When going into the reception rooms and kitchen, start thinking about all the bits and pieces you have accumulated over the years. Pay attention to items such as:
● Books, CDs and DVDs
● Ornaments and knick-knacks
● Kitchen tools and appliances that currently live on the counters
● House plants (ensure that any internal house plants look fresh and full of life.)
The bedrooms and bathroom: Again, think about the space you are trying to create. You don’t want piles of clothes on the bedroom floor, hairdryers, straighteners and all those things not having a home of their own and laying around on the floor, all vital space to show off the size of a room. Don’t be scared to invest in some bedroom storage to be able to clear spaces and make your bedroom feel fresh and clean.
Children’s bedrooms: This again is all about creative storage. Storage boxes or toy boxes are a great way of tidying toys and allowing a room to feel spacious and not cluttered.
When you reach the bathroom it's important to note that this is often one of the smallest rooms in the house, so make sure you don’t make it feel smaller with every type of bleach and anti-bacterial cleaner on display. If you can, store these in an airing cupboard or in a bathroom storage unit to make your bathroom feel clean and clutter free.
Don’t be scared to throw stuff away, and if you don’t want to do this get some storage boxes to tidy up, it will make a huge difference to the feel of space in these important rooms.
Another idea could be renting some storage space to temporarily keep any extra furniture safe that might be making your house feel crowded.
A useful tip is when a buyer views you house, they want to be able to move around a room feeling unhindered.
Also, don’t forget about a spring clean
Now is the time to get those marigolds on and clean like you have never cleaned before. We are not talking about a quick 'once over', serious attention to detail is necessary.
● Dust the skirting boards
● Clean the windows (inside and out) and then polish them for extra shine
● Dust light fixtures and furniture
● Vacuum thoroughly
● Get rid of cobwebs
● Polish taps and mirrors
● Clean out the refrigerator and deodorise. A top tip for this is to place an open pot of baking soda inside to soak up odours, then wipe down the inside surfaces with vanilla extract.
● Bleach tile grout or buy a grout pen.
● Scrub the oven clean - it may sound excessive, but make sure it looks clean on the outside, but also the inside.
When the house is all clean, perhaps invest in some air fresheners and open windows to air the house out on a regular basis. Odours such as cigarette smoke, mildew and pets can be a real off-put for buyers. A plug-in air freshener or a wax warmer can help give a home a warm welcome feel.
