There is a wealth of information online in relation to selling your own home. We have compiled information that you need to know when undertaking this option. See the links at the bottom of this page that will help if you are looking to buy or sell using the Internet as the tool of choice.

When selling it is very important to prepare your home or property. Take heed of the following points,

1) Remove clutter - if it's something that you never use, sell it, dispose of it or donate it. Pack away excess ornaments and personal items into boxes and store. Clean away surfaces to enhance space, especially in the kitchen - clear counters look much better.

2) Store items in cupboards and on shelves neatly. If a potential buyer opens a storage area, mess can have a negative impact.

3) Carry out any DIY tasks that are needed. You may be used to seeing a broken curtain rail, and may never notice it anymore, but a potential buyer's eyes will be drawn to it. Do a walk around your house with a buyers view in mind, or ask a friend or family member to do this to help identify areas needing attention.

4) Make sure the front of the house is clean and tidy. If you have a garden, spend some time and money ensuring flower beds are colourful, any lawn is kept trimmed and gravel and paving is neat and place. Depending on the time of year, maybe add a few pots with colourful flowers or during Autumn and Winter use pots with evergreen plants, bushes and conifers. These first impressions matter!

5) If you are a smoker, make sure that you air the house and add attractive scents with candles, burning oils or incence. An attractive house with bad smells will turn of a buyer very quickly.

6) When buyers are looking, if possible have any children or pets out of the property to avoid distration.

7) When advertising via a site like nesthaven, you will be the one showing your potential buyers around. Make sure you have the viewing plan in mind and your patter practised. Keep the flow going and allow buyers to ask questions as you tour the property.

8) Make the house feel welcome - have the fire on if it's cool outside, have the television turned off, but have a radio or better still a CD/MP3 player on playing relaxing tracks. (Prepare a cd beforehand if able and have it playing when buyers arrive. Put on soft lamps instead of harsher ceiling lights and if there are outdoor lights and it it dusk, have them turned on so that when a buyer arrives it has a welcome feel. (If you have a driveway leading up to the house, use solar lights lining the lawn to help create an atmosphere)

9) If you need to furnish a room, borrow attractive furniture from friends or family to help show how a room can be used.

10) Make bedrooms bigger by pushing beds against walls where possible and puting down light rugs to brighten the room and make it feel larger.

In the interests of safety, ensure that you have someone in the house with you when showing people around.

 

Other useful guides

• How much should I advertise my house for?
• How do I take good pictures to advertise well?