Don’t curb on kerb appeal
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to dazzling buyers, a pleasing exterior can make all the difference. Beautifully manicured front gardens and brightly painted doors suggest properties have been well looked after inside, too. Create an inviting entrance with potted evergreen shrubs either side of the front door (it’s all about the symmetry) and ensure the path is clean and clutter free. Nobody wants to be tripping over broken tiles en route to their new dream home. You can make a bold statement with front door furniture. Quirky and expensive looking knockers, letterplates and handles add immediate character for a relatively small spend. And make sure your door number jumps out to prospective buyers – they’ll have that new address in mind, and it could turn out to be their lucky number.
Above image: First impressions are everything. Go bold with your door number in printed etched glass effect window film. From £45 per sq m (purlfrost.com)
Sell the lifestyle
It’s not easy to see your property in a properly objective light, particularly if it’s a home that’s been lived in and loved for many years. Decluttering is a no-brainer, you’ll want to present a tidy home and optimise on space, but some sellers take the tidy too far and a bland, empty box of a room can leave potential purchasers cold. Colour is always emotive and your buyers will definitely have opinions on stronger schemes, whereas a neutral palette is less likely to offend. But of course, you need to strike the right balance. Avoid the blanket of beige look by thinking about textures such as patterned wallpapers and cosy rugs. Even the loudest scatter cushions wouldn’t be a turn-off here so add bold pops of colour with soft furnishings. And as a finishing touch, treat yourself and your viewers to a bright, seasonal bunch of cut flowers – preferably somewhere really conspicuous.
Above image: Schedule an impressive bunch of seasonal blooms to be delivered in time for those all-important viewings From £21.95 (bloomon.co.uk)
Keep it spring fresh
Unless you’re a burgeoning property developer, it’s unlikely you’ll be putting in a new kitchen and bathroom simply for the purpose of a quick sale. Yet, these are the two most important areas of the home to consider when it comes to sealing the deal. Your prospective buyers will be doing their mental maths as they whizz round the viewing, working out whether they’ll need to replace the kitchen and bathroom within so many years, and how that correlates with your asking price. Make the most of what you have by considering a new lick of paint, re-grouting tiles and paying for a professional deep clean. In the kitchen, coordinate your small appliances and keep surfaces sparkling and clear to create the illusion of more space. In the bathroom, it’s worth spending on little luxuries such as fluffy white towels, on-show beauty products and smart accessories, because who doesn’t love a snoop around a stranger’s bathroom? You will be judged!
Above image: Dazzle prospective buyers with a spring fresh and squeaky clean kitchen, like this one from Rebecca Nokes at John Lewis of Hungerford with PC Construction & Renovations (john-lewis.co.uk; pcconstructionltd.co.uk)
Or… simply stage it
If all this seems a tad overwhelming and too important not to get right, you can go down the professional route and hire an interior designer who’ll style your abode with spot-on furnishings curated specifically to maximise its marketing potential. Home staging is now big business and, in tricky and uncertain times for the London property market, it can be the difference between a speedy sale and a disheartening price reduction.
Above image: Keep it neutral but go wild with colour pops, as in this smart Hampstead bedroom (yokokloeden.com)