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Why You Should Think Like A Buyer To Sell
Your House
Karen Burge
When you decide to sell your house, you know you should be making it appealing and desirable but it is often difficult to know just where to start. I find one of the most effective ways is to turn yourself into a buyer and look at your own home through the eyes of a potential purchaser.
Grab yourself a notepad and approach your home from the outside, just like a visitor would. Look at it carefully. Is there anything that catches your eye such as a badly scratched front door or a tangle of overgrown shrubs? Make a note of it as this is now going to be your To Do List.
When you enter, take a deep breath. What does it smell like? We get used to the smell of our home but if you have pets, your home may have a distinctive smell that will put some people off. If you are not sure then ask an honest friend to tell you!
What are your first impressions on entering? It is vital to make a note of this as it is well known that people make up their minds very quickly. If your viewer does not like your house within the first few seconds of entering, they are already prepared to cross it off their list before they've even got to the kitchen. So make sure the entrance is light, bright and uncluttered.
The kitchen and bathroom are the most important rooms viewers will consider. What will they think when they go into yours? Both of them need to be scrupulously clean and fresh smelling. Be honest; do you really enjoy being in your kitchen? Can you relax in your bathroom?
On entering each room try and look at it with fresh eyes. What attracts your attention? If it is clutter, dirty marks or a broken curtain rail then you can be sure this is what your potential purchaser will notice first. Make a note now to fix those things that might prevent a sale.
So before you start packing away all your personal possessions and painting everything cream just take a good look at your home. If you were someone else, would you buy it? Looking at your home in this way and noting it all down will tell you exactly where to start.
Karen Burge moved house and family 11 times in 16 years both in England and abroad before finally settling in London. She now runs aproperty business helping sellers to achieve maximum price. Get her book, "Sell That House!"
(c) Karen Burge. All Rights Reserved. |
