How to make your home irresistible to a buyer

In a challenging economic climate, selling your home can be tough. Selling your home at the price you want to get for it can be tougher still. So put yourself in the best possible position by taking action and increasing your home's buyer appeal.

Maximising your home's saleability needn't involve spending a lot of money. Much of it is about presenting it in the right way, keeping it clean and viewing your living space through the eyes of a prospective buyer. There are steps you can take both inside and outside the home to increase its value and attractiveness to potential new owners.

Outside the Home

The strategy here is to create that elusive 'kerb appeal'. Remember that a buyer will see the outside of your home before they go inside - and first impressions count. This means that you need to tidy walkways, cut the grass, put out your best hanging baskets, clear away clutter, tidy away recycling bins and give the door and window ledges a fresh coat of paint. Make the house look welcoming and cared for. If you have yellowing nets or curtains, make sure you wash them. If there are tiles missing from the roof and old television cables hanging down, get a roofer in to fix them.

Less is More

View everything with a first time visitor's eyes. Get rid of junk - if you don't use it or need it, then pack it away, sell it or donate it to charity. Minimise your furnishings, accessories and belongings so that the rooms look liveable and spacious. The buyer needs to be able to envisage their belongings and taste within the space, not be diverted by the sight of all your things. Emptier spaces also look cleaner and bigger. Plus, you'll save money on moving costs!

Clean and Cosy

Clean everything well too and keep it that way so it doesn't smell suspiciously fresh, as though you've carried out that emergency clean before the viewers appear. Bring in as much natural light as you can by putting up lighter curtains or voiles, cleaning windows and opening blinds. You can also lift rooms with clever use of colour. Try painting them in neutral shades in a similar palette, such as warm creams, camels, greys and beiges which will enlarge and unify the rooms. Avoid bright white and the ubiquitous magnolia, though, or the house will feel as though it's been done up purely to sell.

Consider 'staging' your home too with tactics designed to appeal to the senses. Add cosy touches such as soft towels in the bathroom and throws across sofas. Keep the house warm enough for a visitor without being overpowering and put on fresh percolating coffee to create a comfortable and welcoming feel. Other tactics include removing your personalised items and making sure that the right lighting is on to show Wirral flats, for example, to their best advantage - don't leave dark corners unlit or opt for harsh overheads. Look to create cosy glows and attractive finishes.

The Right Attitude

Finally, stay positive during the process. With all the doom and gloom in the housing market, it can be easy to get dragged down and believe you'll struggle to sell. But if the buyer meets an upbeat and confident seller, the attitude will rub off and emphasise the belief you have in your home and its value. That could just be the difference between a sale and a non-sale, so always greet visitors with a warm smile and self-assured manner.