Five tips to make buyers fall in love with your London property

Tired décor? No garden? Not enough bathrooms? Whatever your reasons for selling your home and moving on, it’s possible that you might have fallen a little out of love with your current property by the time the “For Sale” signs go up. But does it matter if you no longer feel the love?

In short, yes, it matters a lot. From now on, your job will be to help prospective buyers feel just as excited about your property as you once were. Remember the buzz you felt when you first walked in? If you can make your house or flat look welcoming and presentable, you’ll be well on the way to making a sale. With a little planning and a modest budget, you can spruce up your property in no time. Here are a few of our ‘quick win’ suggestions:

Freshen up - A fresh coat of paint and some new carpets can work wonders, but keep the style of the décor fairly neutral. You may love strong colours and patterns, but there’s no guarantee that prospective buyers will feel the same.

Do the DIY - If there are any outstanding DIY jobs to be done, deal with them before viewings begin. Broken tiles in the kitchen, a dripping tap in the bathroom or weeds cascading from the gutters all convey the message that maintenance isn’t one of your priorities. Remember, first impressions count!

Sweat the small stuff - Filling your home with the aroma of home baked cakes isn’t necessary before a viewing, but don’t put off buying a new kettle, toaster or bread bin until after you move: buy them now. Smart new accessories in the kitchen, fresh flowers in the hallway and clean towels in the bathroom all combine to make a home seem up-to-date and inviting.

Curtain up on a clean home - From the moment your property details go live online, it’s showtime. And the performance shouldn’t stop until the day you accept an offer. That means a constant blitz on the sights and smells of daily life – no toothpaste flecks on the bathroom mirror, pet hairs on the couch or socks drying on the radiator.

Leave it to the experts - You may feel as though you are the best person to sell your own home, but sometimes it’s better to stand back and leave it to the experts. If you do get involved in viewings, keep your responses upbeat and positive, especially when it comes to that all-important phrase: “We’ve always been really happy here”.

If you're planning to market your London property while this year is still new, you might find the advice in Preparing for a New Year property sale handy. Read also Top tips for selling a London property in winter. Daniel Cobb is a trusted estate agent with over twenty years’ experience of selling residential properties in central London, and our friendly sales teams are always ready to advise on the best way to prepare your home for sale.

Just call us at our offices in Westminster, London Bridge or Kennington to arrange a property valuation, and we’ll take it from there.