First Impressions Count
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. When you are selling your house, making a first impression is essential. Consequently, if a person is inspired when they visit your property, they are far more likely to have a higher opinion of its value. The smallest of changes can make a huge difference – and maximise its impact. And it needn’t cost a fortune. There are dozens of tips, starting before your visitors even get to your door.
Keep up with the Joneses
It’s called ‘kerb appeal’. Making your house look impressive, before they open the gate. Here, above all, honesty pays. Does next door really look more inviting?
Buy a Yard Brush
Make sure your garden or patio area is tidy. Sweep up leaves and debris, weed those beds, mow that lawn and clip that hedge. Clean terraces, decking, steps, sheds and garden furniture. Remove unsightly and slippery moss. Finally, a table and chairs in a small area can add an extra dimension to your property.
Tackle the Shed
Garages, sheds and greenhouses – say hello to your nearest recycling centre and clear out those dumping grounds for clutter. And furthermore while you are at it, oil those squeaky hinges!
Colour
Add it to your garden in the summer. In winter, use plant pots with hardy, variegated evergreens and flowering shrubs. Plant containers with bulbs in the autumn for a colourful display if you are selling in the spring. Also, if you haven’t thought this far ahead, get some from your local garden centre. Most noteworthy a couple of large plants can look very impressive on patios and terraces.
Living Room – First Impression
Deep Clean
Whatever the time of year, give the house a Spring clean. Certainly have soft furnishings and carpets professionally cleaned; replace worn or badly stained carpets; re-stain shabby wooden floors – or brighten them up with attractive rugs.
Follow the Colour Code
First of all strong colours can sometimes alienate potential buyers. The cost of buyers having to redecorate could undermine the value of your property. Consequently, if necessary, repaint. Choose pale, warm neutral colours, such as cream or off-white.
Eye-Catching
Choose striking fabrics that tone with the décor for soft furnishings and cushions in living rooms.
Wall Art
Pictures, paintings and mirrors should be hung carefully. Therefore be aware that large pictures dominate small rooms. Similarly dark ones should be avoided in rooms with little natural light. Furthermore family photographs are best removed.
Mood Lighting
Most importantly good lighting is essential in living rooms. Consider replacing dated central pendants with lampshades that show the light bulb with modern fittings. Furthermore, secondary lighting, such as standard or table lamps, can add impact.
Table Manners
If you have a separate dining room, show it with a table and chairs. No need to lay the table for dinner – a bowl or fruit or fresh flowers is enough. Besides that, having one or two books and a quality magazine on a coffee table will certainly add an even more welcoming touch.
TV Guide
Most importantly a television shouldn’t be a focal point for a living room. Keep it in the background.
Kitchen – First Impressions
Kitchen Trends
First of all check out what’s new in kitchen design. New doors don’t have to be expensive. Changing handles is inexpensive and as result is a great way to give kitchen units a lift. Choose ones that are similar in size and shape to your existing ones to save you having to fill and sand holes. Besides that fix any broken tiles.
Pet-Free
Remove all evidence of pets. Put bowls, beds and toys out of sight. Never have pets in the kitchen when showing your home.
Smells Like Home
Baking bread and brewing coffee before the doorbell rings creates a homely atmosphere, but it doesn’t necessarily result in increasing the saleability of your property.
Wash Day
Don’t run kitchen appliances during a viewing. You want to create an impression of calm and style – not the humdrum of housework.
Clean Lines
Just how clean is your kitchen? Run your fingers over the surfaces to feel for stickiness or grease. Make sure units are spotless, inside and out. Keep surfaces as clear as possible. Put anything away that you do not use daily. It will be easier to keep clean this way too.
Casual Dining
If your kitchen is large enough, make sure there’s a table and seating there – even if you also have a separate dining room. An extra eating area adds value.
Bedrooms – First Impression
Bright and Breezy
Most importantly bedroom décor should be all be neutral. Consequently, off-whites, creams and pale yellows have wider appeal than pinks and lilacs.
Fresh and Airy
Dust smells musty. Deep clean bedrooms – and under beds – and open the windows before the viewing.
A Little Luxury
Remove cosmetics, toiletries and personal items. As a result potential purchasers can imagine, they are walking into an elegant hotel room. Comfortable, stylish, yet impersonal. Similarly, bedspreads and large scatter cushions add to the feeling of luxury and as a result make the bedroom more appealing.
Child’s Play
While bedrooms should be as tidy, clean and fresh as possible, certainly don’t be too harsh on your children. Probably best to pack up toys in boxes, and store most of them away – with sensitivity! Furthermore the boxes can be alternated so they play with toys in rotation. Similarly keep teenage posters to a minimum. For an inexpensive, but smart finish, clip-frame them.
Storage Solutions
Above all don’t be fooled. Visitors won’t be too embarrassed to open cupboards. They will want to see what storage space you have – not a jumble of clothes and toys you’ve stashed away at the last minute.
Seduce with Space
Finally, spare bedrooms crammed with boxes and junk are a no-no. Show a spare room as a bedroom looking as attractive as your master bedroom.
Bathrooms – First Impression
Squeaky Clean
Most importantly bathrooms must be pristine. Therefore remove stains from lavatories with caustic soda. Similarly make sure curtains and blinds are dust-free.
Clear Away
If your bathroom is free from clutter, it looks bigger, so above all clear out that cabinet, tidy away day-to-day toiletries – and banish that rubber duck!
Think Tiles
A coloured suite? Consider toning the colour down with white tiles or chrome fittings to modernise the look. Likewise tiling every wall of a small bathroom makes it seem bigger. Think of hotel bathrooms, small, but stylish and generally tiled throughout.
Get It Out
Remove and replace grubby tile grout. If your tiles have seen better days, bleach them. If that doesn’t work, replace them.
Warm Reception
Bathrooms should feel warm. Consider a heated towel rail for a modern edge.
Perfect Reflection
Make sure your bathroom has a good-sized mirror to help reflect light. One or two candles and, (if you have good natural light) a leafy fern will finish the room.
Finishing Touches
Buy a new shower curtain and some new towels and only use them for viewing days.
Seal the Deal
Finally check the sealant around the bath, shower, tray and sink. If it looks less than perfect, replace it. Similarly simple changes like new taps or a new shower head can make a big difference.
Finally, now that the work is done please click on the links below for further information on available properties:
https://www.sherryfitz.ie/branch/ballina
https://www.facebook.com/SherryFitzFeeneyWest/
