Top tips for sellers

Here are my inexpensive interior design tips and advice on preparing a home for sale. We are aiming for maximum impact and buyer appeal with these top tips for sellers, because the probability of selling the home at a good price increases when more people are actually interested in the property.

Appeal to the masses

Your house has to be presented in a way that will appeal to the broadest possible group of potential buyers. The more interested parties there are, the better the chances of getting a good price.

So, the trick is to ensure that homebuyers can truly imagine themselves living in your home, as soon as they get out of the car.

Depersonalise

This means that you will have to "depersonalise" your home. No, come on! Don't get pouty and upset now! You've already made up your mind to move somewhere else, haven't you? If not, don't go putting your home on the market. Rather enter it in a home decorating competition!

Depersonalising the house means packing away those family photos and books, so long. And yes, the crucifixes, Buddha statuettes, and Metallica posters also have to go, for now.

Although your home is an ideal canvas to make a statement to the world, when selling your property, that is the last thing you want to do! The only statement a very personalised house makes to the majority of potential buyers, is, "Don't buy me! I am someone else's home!"

The majority of potential buyers will also have a hard time visualising themselves living in your home, if the walls are bright, patterned or just plain ugly. Repaint them in light, neutral colours. You can introduce splashes of colour with rugs, cushions, throws, table runners and flowers, rather than with bold murals.

Clear Clutter

Yes, I said clear the clutter. Our own mess very easily becomes so familiar in our homes, that it becomes design features, which we are so used to having around; we cannot see the forest for the trees. Get an outside opinion to make sure you get rid of all the unnecessary junk, which makes your rooms look small and stuffy. Okay, sometimes junk is too harsh a word. But clutter sends unhelpful messages to your buyers. So, remove any unnecessary furniture from your rooms.

Tidy up. There are storage facilities in many South African cities and towns where they will happily store your junk for a small fee. And if you can't find enough space to store your less personal stuff, call an auction house or pawn shop, and see if you can't get a couple of Rands for it. If no one is interested, donate it to anyone who will take it, or take as much as possible to the nearest dump. (But don't just dump things like computer equipment and such. These products may contain hazardous substances in their components, and should be dispensed with in a responsible way!)

We're still dogging clutter! Make sure all entrances are welcoming and uncluttered. Make sure the doors open properly and aren't hampered by a clutter of coats behind. View your main entrance from outside. Paint the door, or varnish it, if needs be. Polish brass door handles and locks, and while you're at it, oil the hinges, so it will not sound like the opening scene of "The Crypt Keeper", when you welcome potential buyers to your home.

A strategically placed mirror can make a world of difference to a dark entrance hall. Positioned at eye level, it can give the illusion of added space, while making the most of the available light.

Also make sure that that your furniture doesn't stop any of the internal doors from opening or shutting properly.

Clean like never before

Okay! Done with the de-clutter! Now for the real hard work: The often-dreaded "elbow grease" can add value to your house, for much less, than almost anything else. Clean everything! And then clean and clean some more!

The kitchen and bathrooms accumulate all kinds of gunk in the most incredible places. But don't stop after getting the kitchen and bathroom to literally sparkle. Dust every remaining lampshade, ornament and surface in your home. And don't forget the cobwebs in the nooks and crannies!

Make repairs

Finish all those little jobs round the house, which you never got around to. Start at one end of the house, and list every little thing, right to the other end. And if DIY is not your cup of tea, or you don't know what you're doing, get someone to do it for you. (It is a good idea to get a detailed quote, and to make sure that every item on the list is dealt with.)

Stuck drawers, broken hinges, broken window catches, an out of order front door bell, or half-finished shelves, can tell a tale of neglect or poor maintenance. This can lead potential buyers to figure that there may be other more serious neglected problems with the property.

A home's carpets are funny things. They can be a major point of negotiation, if someone makes an offer to purchase the property. But a seller can hardly please everyone, here. The important thing to remember is that carpets get dirty over time, and capture all kinds of smells. So, have them professionally cleaned. And if the carpets have stretched from years of wear, have them re-set, rather than replacing them.

If the carpet is a real eyesore, by all means, get new carpets. Or even if the carpets are dark or heavily patterned, and make the rooms seem smaller, consider getting more neutral carpets. But chances are the new carpets will not satisfy the buyers' needs and tastes, so replace them as a last resort. If the buyers moan about the carpets when making an offer to purchase your home, be willing to reduce your price by the amount that you would have had to pay for replacement carpets, but don't let them take you to the cleaners for it!

Oh, and before starting to clean the carpets, ban your pets from the house.

Ban the pets

I know it is hard! I also live in my dogs' house. But many people don't agree with pet hair, so be ruthless, and make alternative plans for the duration of your sale.

It's easy to get used to the way your house and pets smell, so you may have to ask a friend to be brutally honest with you. If there is any chance that your house smells, eliminate unpleasant smells before each viewing. Get rid of pet hair too! Brush and vacuum until you're sure it's gone.

Here's a little trick for removing stubborn pet hair from upholstery: Use a damp (not soppy wet) sponge to wipe the upholstery. Always wipe in the same direction, and soon those stubborn pet hairs, which your powerful vacuum cleaner could not budge, start moving to the edge!

Form follows function

Make sure that the furnishings in every room indicate a clear function and purpose. The principal function of the room should be clearly defined. A fourth bedroom could function as a bedroom, a study, a studio, or a dressing room, but not all at once! Make up your mind, and dress the room accordingly.