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Tops tips for selling houses There is something in the British psyche that drives many of us to want to own our own home. Despite whatever state the financial markets are in, people will always want to buy and sell houses. During a recession the turnover of property in your local estate agent's window may not be as swift, and the prices those houses sell for may not be as high; but there are still buyers out there looking for a home. Of course there will always be some properties that are easier to sell than others; three bedroom semi detached family homes in good neighbourhoods being among the most popular. But even if you are selling a bed-sit on a busy high street, located between a noisy night club and a gas works, there are tried and tested methods that will attract the right buyer. Following these simple guidelines should help you achieve a sale:

Quick links within this section: Houses for sale in Redditch Property marketing FAQs Staging a property for sale Property development marketing prices Property marketing articles: Selling Houses: What to ask buyers viewing your home The Coloured Bathroom Comeback Top Tips for Selling Houses Previous projects: Home for sale in Rome House for sale in Redditch

• Identify your market - who is likely to buy your house
• Choose the right estate agent - eg: one who specialises in your type of property
• Clean and de-clutter everywhere - inside and out
• Keep decor neutral - to appeal to the widest audience possible
• Be realistic about your asking price
• Have your house ready for viewings at any time

Before you start marketing your house for sale, you need to think carefully about its features. For example its location, size, any historical points. In other words what are its main selling points. Remember: something you may view as a reason to sell, such as a 'noisy high street location', may actually be a reason to buy when marketed as a 'convenient location on the high street'. You can then start to get a good idea of the type of person who would be most likely to buy your property.

Identify your market

When it comes to selling houses, some home owners still get this very wrong. A flat on the high street is more likely to attract single buyers, so your property's presentation and marketing should reflect their lifestyle. If you have a three bedroom semi in a quiet residential road, close to good schools, then it will appeal to a wider audience including families and couples.

Choose the right estate agent

It is always a good idea to use an estate agent who has successfully sold other similar houses in your area. An agent who has experience of selling to your target market or one that specialises in your type of property. They will know the best places to advertise your house for sale, so it is seen by your target audience. Furthermore they are more likely to have a waiting list of buyers searching for a property just like yours.

Clean and de-clutter everywhere

When most potential buyers walk into a house they want to feel there will be enough room for all of their belongings. The property should feel clean, appear to be easy to maintain and give the buyer the impression that they could move in straight away and wouldn't need to re-decorate immediately. This is where many home owners lose the sale as soon as the buyer gets through the front door.

You need to remember you are selling a lifestyle. It may sound unbelievable but some home owners simply do not bother to tidy up before a viewing. Over-grown gardens, unwashed windows, dirty carpets, dust and clutter and bad odours will put off buyers; it will make them think that living in your home is hard work. Any outside areas around your house should be tidy and the access to your property welcoming. Inside should be thoroughly cleaned and any issues such as pealing paintwork or unstuck wallpaper should be fixed.

The next thing is to ensure your rooms are properly defined. For example, if you have three bedrooms then you should present them as three bedrooms; not as one bedroom, an office and a junk store.

A buyer needs to be able to imagine living in your home. They will not be able to do this if they are distracted by walls filled with photographs and shelves groaning beneath dust-gathering collections of china ornaments. De-personalising your living space will help buyers to mentally place their belongings in it. You're going to have to pack away your clutter when you move anyway, so you may as well get it out of the way in advance and show your home to its best advantage.

Just as personal clutter can put a buyer off, so can the family's pet. From a hamster to an Afghan Hound, the ideal solution is to keep them out of the house during viewings. Who knows, your ideal buyer with a pocket full of cash may have a phobia or an allergy, so being greeted by the odour of a howling wolf or the children's rodent scratching on his wheel in the corner of the dining room will not create the right impression.

If you really have no idea where to begin with presenting your property for sale, your estate agent should give you some suggestions. Alternatively you could enlist the services of a property marketing professional. They will give you a totally unbiased view of your property's presentation and arrange any remedial work that is necessary to help you achieve a sale.

Keep decor neutral

The last thing buyers want to have to do when they move in to a new home is to start decorating. Shocking pink walls and a tartan carpet may be to your personal taste, but garish colours and bold decorative statements will totally alienate some buyers; at best they may think putting it right will be expensive, so they will offer you a lower price. You do not need to create a clinical magnolia box to attract a buyer, but a blank canvas and keeping your colour palette simple will create the feeling of space and give buyers the opportunity to imagine living in your home.

Be realistic about your asking price

When you put your house on the market it may be tempting to go with the estate agent that gives you the highest valuation. You may enjoy bathing in the glory that your house is worth far more than you anticipated. But you should always remember that a house is only worth what a buyer is prepared to pay for it, so an unrealistically high valuation can lead to your house simply not selling.

A good estate agent with good local knowledge should give you an accurate valuation; after all they are in the business of selling houses. If you think your asking price is too low or too high compared to other similar properties in your area, don't be afraid to ask your estate agent what he has based his valuation on. Remember, he is working for you.

Have your house ready for viewings at any time

Your house may be the best one in the road, in an excellent location, be beautifully presented and tick all the boxes for many buyers, but you won't sell it if people can't get in to actually view it when they want to. This may sound pretty obvious, but many home owners refuse to let estate agents show potential buyers around their property while they are not there during the day. Maybe the thought of having to vacuum the carpets and make the beds before the school run sounds like too much hard work. This attitude will restrict the number of viewings and could delay a sale.

Prospective buyers will want to see your house in the daylight. If a buyer can only view it at eight o'clock in the morning, or during their lunch hour, then you need to make your house presentable and available to view. This may mean living a little differently until your house is sold, but it will be worth it in the end.

There are numerous well-known tricks sellers use to create a more homely feel, such as baking bread and cakes or brewing fresh coffee; however the more discerning buyer will not be seduced by these aromas. Today's buyers want clean, bright and fresh smelling properties. Prior to every viewing you should vacuum any carpets, ensure surfaces are clean, open all of the windows to allow fresh air in and switch on lamps if it is an overcast day. If it is a night viewing, switch on lights in all rooms before your buyer arrives. This will create a more homely appeal from the outside and it will avoid opening interior doors onto dark, un-lit rooms during the viewing.

If you are serious about selling your house you need to take advantage of every sales opportunity. Your home life may become affected by all that extra housework and lack of pets and personal clutter around you; you may feel that it is no longer your home. But don't worry, the disruption shouldn't last too long, after all you will be moving soon.

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