Richard Black, expert for QVC shopping channel’s home interiors, Property Developer, Interior Designer and Podcaster looks into the common sense ways to make you home stand out for sale.
Property Developer, Interior Designer and Podcaster, Richard Black
The weather is hot and the housing market is cooling. Those two rarely go hand in hand - most Estate Agents will tell you houses sell far better when the sun is out.
Despite rises over recent months taking house values to an all-time high, the increases alone appear to be the undoing of many buy and sell transactions.
“A number of offers have been accepted and then a few days later the Buyers have reconsidered the expense they may be exposing themselves to and have withdrawn from the transaction.” Jonathan Wood of high end estate agency Sowerbys of Norfolk (www.sowerbys.com) admits managing expectations in the housing market at the moment is an uphill climb.
These so called ‘Fall Throughs’ in a housing transaction – at whatever stage – can be frustrating for everyone involved. Gerard Boon of Boon Brokers (www.boonbrokers.co.uk ) says that so often the deal breaker is usually last minute;
“Our most common cause for a mortgage application to be declined relates to the valuation stage of the mortgage journey.
If a valuer is unable to move freely around a property during the inspection, probably due to clutter, mortgage lenders have been known to decline the mortgage application because of this limited access.
If a property is not clean, this may also impact the surveyor’s perception of the property, potentially resulting in a down-valuation. Ultimately, valuations are subjective. If you wish to maximise the valuation of the property, ensure that the property is shown at its best standard during the valuation stage of the process.”
Here are my top tips for Common Sense Selling and impressing viewers on the first visit.
Smells – Viewing is visual. However, close your eyes. Wandering around a home that smells of soggy dog, unwashed socks or last night’s dinner will fail to impress. Vacuum, dust and place a couple of reed diffusers in a few of the rooms. They act as an ornament but also will create a discreet aroma throughout the property.
Taste – Leave out some biscuits or warm muffins on a plate on the kitchen worktop. Offer the viewer a drink. So many times it’s 85% person and 15% product. If someone likes you, they develop a trust in you to potentially buy from you. Also, sweets on display in a dish will certainly put a smile on the face of any children accompanying parents on the viewing. Happy children = happy parents!
Looks – Come on, you don’t need to be Miss Marple to work out that buyers are attracted to a clean home over a dirty one. However, go the extra mile. A strategically placed vase of flowers brings an otherwise blank area to life and will be a great talking point for the viewers. “What beautiful Peonies” or “mmm those Lillies smell lovely” are the words you’re looking for; they’ve engaged with what you’re trying to sell them. Even faux plants are having a renaissance and can bring a boring bathroom to life.
Touch – Sticky kitchen work surfaces, dusty coffee tables and matted seat covers will attract very few people. In bedrooms – the place where we like to be most comfortable – dress beds with cushions and throws that feel soft and comfortable on the side of your face. Psychologically the message to a buyer is ‘you can rest here…and doesn’t that bed look lovely to crash out in.’
Light colours will brighten the room but also serve as a cuddly welcome to wherever it’s placed. Strategically organise cushions and throws on sofas too – paint a picture of comfort and cosiness without breaking the bank.
Sound – Noises ranging from screaming kids, the road at the end of the garden or the neighbour’s trombone lesson can cast a spell of doom over a potential sale. Distract potential viewers by having soft music playing on the radio throughout the house, at a very low level. Choose radio stations such as Smooth, Magic or Classic FM. Try www.smoothradio.com, www.listen.magic.co.uk or www.classicfm.com
Richard Black is home interiors expert for global shopping channel QVC, he presents Home:Work Property Podcast www.thehomework.co.uk. Go to www.richardblack.co.uk for a selection of his completed properties.
