Each room of your home should have a clear identity - and that doesn't include 'box room'.
If your spare room has turned into a storage area, clear out all of the boxes and other junk - put them into storage, into a friend's garage, into a skip - anywhere but inside your home.
Give the room a quick coat of neutral-coloured paint if it needs it, and then put a bed and perhaps a small wardrobe or chest of drawers into it. Don't go overboard with the furniture - you'll just make it look cramped.
You should take this approach throughout your home. Make sure each room has the right furniture in to define its identity - but get rid of anything that makes it seem 'cosy' or cramped.
Potential buyers want to see space for their own furniture, not evidence that the rooms aren't big enough.
One final point is that some rooms are worth more than others. This may not seem to make any sense, but it's true nonetheless!
Bedrooms are generally worth more than offices and definitely more than playrooms.
Likewise dining rooms are preferable to nurseries and playrooms or hobby areas.
If you're lucky enough to have a conservatory, make sure it looks like one - not like another storage area.
It's a simple fact of life that presentation is everything - most of what's described above can be achieved without major expenditure or work. All that's required is for you to look at the inside of your home as a visitor would - impartially.
Don't be afraid to put some of your furniture and belongings in storage and use preparing your home for sale as an opportunity for a thorough clear out. You are moving, after all.
Getting the Outside Right
"First impressions last" is one of the oldest clichés around - and that's because it is true.
Just as it applies to people, it also applies to homes. House-selling experts reckon that potential buyers start to make their buying decisions within 15 seconds of arriving at a property - probably before they even step inside.
Maximising the 'kerb appeal' of your home is vital if you want a quick, profitable sale. As your potential buyers arrive at your home, they will consciously and subconsciously be influenced by its appearance, so it's important you get it just right.
The good news for most people is that this doesn't involve much work - just a little planning.
The Garden If you've got a front garden, make sure you:
- mow the lawn
- weed and tidy flower beds, paving and your drive
- remove any toys, tools and other non-garden 'stuff'
You might see toys and mess as evidence of a fun, lived-in family garden - but potential buyers will just see it as untidy and poorly maintained.
The Front of your Home Just like your garden, the front of your home speaks volumes about you and creates an instant impression on your potential buyers.
Make sure the front of your home is clean - you may need to wash it down (especially if it's painted) and make sure your windows are sparkling clean too.
Clean windows also help on the inside, making rooms seem lighter and brighter.
If your windows or front door aren't looking their best, consider repainting them (although make sure you do a good job).
Brass door 'furniture' like handles and letterboxes can also be cheaply and quickly replaced for an instant facelift, and any outstanding DIY jobs to the outside of your home should be completely and neatly finished before you put it on the market.
One final suggestion is to clean out any blocked gutters - they can usually be seen from the ground. Buyers will see blocked gutters as sloppy maintenance and a potential problem for them to deal with.