Sale and returns

One certainty is that spring traditionally sees property sales pick up as everyone awakes from their winter slumbers. In the current climate, householders need to work a lot harder to sell their properties. You really cannot afford to sit back and expect your estate agent to do all the work.

If you are looking to sell at present, you want to get the best price in the quickest possible time. With a few simple tips and a small amount of investment, you can ensure your home stands the best chance of hooking your potential purchasers.

You don’t need me to tell you that most buyers make emotional decisions (how many times on TV programmes have your heard the words “it just feels right”). Eliciting this response from a viewer is not a matter of luck, but the result of a careful and planned interior marketing campaign.

The moment you decide to put your property on the market, you must look at it in a completely different fashion. It is no longer your home, but a key asset whose value you want to maximise. Do not assume buyers can see beyond the immediate (and in this market they really do not have to), so prepare, prepare, prepare!

Interior decoration is one of the most important weapons in your arsenal. Surveys have continually shown that an “unfavourable” interior colour scheme can reduce the value of your home by up to £3,000. If you consider the cost of a small revamp, you should find the return on investment is a good one.

You need to offer your home as a warm and friendly blank canvas that welcomes your purchaser without giving them immediate thoughts of how much work will need to be undertaken to “put it right” for them. Start by removing highly personalised decoration schemes (vibrant colour choices or novelty themes – particularly in children’s bedrooms) and present your home more simply.

You should favour light colours in your re-decoration, such as stone and oatmeal to give a feeling of warmth, space and cleanliness; avoid magnolia as this removes character and can feel cold. Ensure that your woodwork is in good general condition, clean and chip free.

Review how you are using your rooms and show them off to best advantage for the market that you are trying to sell to. This means ensuring that buyers understand how they will be able to use every bit of space in your home.

If you are appealing to large families, the spare double bedroom which houses an ironing board, sacks of rubbish and marked walls is likely to be written off as a box room unless it is presented tidily, with a double bed – confirming how to use the room and that it will actually fit a double bed (or single bed and desk for teenagers)!

Alternatively, if you are going for the young professional market, integrate a neat study area to house a laptop and printer in a corner or under the stairs to demonstrate how useful even the smallest areas in your home can be.

Show your home has space by getting rid of clutter – if you are not using something pack it away until you move. However, avoid leaving things too sparse – personal touches like floral arrangements, well framed prints and co-ordinating soft furnishings make it feel like a home.

Keep your house tidy and spotless to ensure you can handle last minute viewings. Flexibility is the key to getting your viewing ahead of the other houses on the market.

Keep beds well made with pillows and duvets plumped. Fresh smells are a must, but avoid heavily scented room sprays (neutralisers are often the best bet). Air bedrooms every day and move dog beds out of small rooms. A steam cleaner can refresh the look of carpets and sofas, as well as getting rid of dirt and aromas. Remember the outside; poor paintwork on the front door or a messy front area will guarantee the purchaser never even gets out of the car!

Exterior paint needs to be freshened to a good standard (scraped back, primed and filled – not just a quick coat over the top). The front door should be clean, in good condition, and painted a welcoming colour such as green or brown (avoid red) with any door furniture polished to perfection. All garden areas must be neat and trimmed – it is a reflection on how well you maintain the rest of your property!

Preparation takes time and a little investment. However, you should able to secure a faster sale, save mortgage payments on an asset you wish to part with and get on with the next stage of your life quicker; which to my mind is pretty priceless.

* Jamie Hempsall is a member of BIDA and winner of Best Interior Design – North East in the UK Property Awards 2010. Visit him at www.jamiehempsall.com or call on 01777 248463.