Tips for a successful sale

If you're thinking about upping sticks, the beginning of spring has always been an ideal time of year to put your house on the market.

So how can you use your time wisely before winter is over, and turn your house into a buyer's dream?

The basics should be well known – creating an inviting living space with neutral colours, replacing worn old carpets with laminate floors, re-grouting tiles and general de-cluttering.

But according to estate agents, it's surprising how many of us still forget the basics – and the competition.

"Given the volume of properties on the market at the moment, smart vendors will ensure their properties stand out for all the right reasons, to get them the best price and beat other vendors in their area to a sale," advises Catherine Grainger of Barbers Telford.

Well maintained gardens and exteriors are a must - buyers will often drive past a house slowly to get a feel for the property before they book a viewing, and if the front looks a mess, they'll be unlikely to view it at all.

"First impressions count for a lot," agrees county estate agent Nick Tart.

"Make sure the front door is newly painted, the windows and sills are immaculate, the front garden is neat and that there's no garden growing out of the gutter – quite a few sellers forget that one!"

Needless to say, interiors are equally important, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a small fortune.

There's little point in sinking time and money into a property you're planning to leave, when the new owners will probably replace most of the interiors anyway, as Kevin Boulton of Lane Fox Ludlow explains.

"It might well be worth spending money on a lick of paint, tidying up the outside and making sure the odd DIY jobs are done, but there's no need to go to the expense of putting in new kitchens or bathrooms.

"Most people want to put their own stamp on property and even relatively recently fitted kitchens often get ripped out for new owners to install more up to date ones."

The all-important de-clutter is another essential, because too many objects can confuse the eye, and keep colours pale and neutral to reflect a feeling of space and light.

This will make it much easier for a prospective buyer to visualise themselves, and their belongings, in the house.

"A bit of forethought on how your property might be viewed through their eyes can make the difference between an applicant who stops and views, and one who simply doesn't bother," says Kevin.

If you live in an older property made of solid stone, don't forget to check for damp areas before you sell.

A structural survey will reveal any problems to buyers straight away, so it's definitely worth checking out.

A good precautionary measure is to have a waterproof barrier created - this can be done by drilling into the masonry and filling the space with silicone.

It's also worth getting a survey done on all your electrical work. New safety standards introduced in 2005 have helped to reduce the number of fires, deaths and injuries caused by faulty wirings, but with older properties you can never be too careful.

And finally, your home should feel warm and welcoming - make sure your heating system is up to scratch before the spring so there are no nasty surprises when you come to sell.

Give us your tips on getting your home ready for sale. Fill out the comment form below.

by Lara Page