A Few Tips About Property Presentation

It’s probably fairly obvious to state that when you’ve got people looking at your house, the presentation of the property can be crucial. Bearing in mind that potential buyers can view 5-10 properties in any given day, it can mean the difference between creating an average impression and a great impression. We’re not just talking about the property being clean and tidy but a few other little touches that can make all the difference.

1. Light: all properties have darker areas and the vendor would do well to try to lessen the effects of these. Areas such as hallways are particularly prone to this so it can be worth leaving doors open just to let in light. This also has the advantage of making the property look bigger as open doors can create the impression of more space. Failing that, it can be worth tactically leaving the lights on!
2. Smell: it sounds stupid, but making a property smell homely is one of the more subtle ways of increasing its appeal. We’re not talking about daily trips to the florist or constantly baking bread (though those can be nice touches, especially on second viewings), more like making sure the loo smells fresh and that the house isn’t filled with eau de washing-machine.
3. Clutter: one thing we’ve seen many times is that cluttered homes are harder to sell. We’re not saying get rid of all the fixtures and furniture, but do consider what’s covering the walls and whether the furniture could be arranged to create that bit more space. An important factor on viewings is prospective buyers being able to visualise their possessions in any given space; if every inch of floor- and wall-space is filled, it’s that much harder.

One thing we notice with all of these points is that the prospective buyers really notice if someone has taken that little bit of extra effort in presenting their property. It’s easier for the agents welcome the prospective buyers in and they, in turn, feel more at home, as well as showing that the vendor is serious about selling; all of which creates a good impression!

Happy Birthday!

Today is a rather momentous day for SaleBoards: it’s our 5^th Birthday! That’s 5 years of striving to be different from other agents, to providing the best service we can and also, more importantly, 5 years of happy customers. It’s an obvious statement but, as most of our business comes by word of mouth, if we didn’t have happy customers, we wouldn’t still be here!

SaleBoards was formed in May 2007, just a few weeks before the start of the recession, a rather unfortunate time to set up a business one might think! However, the fact that we’re still going 5 years later is testimony to the fact that people want high quality service for a reasonable price and that people are still looking to move house and use agents to help them do so.

As to the important matter of birthday celebrations, I’m afraid they’re going to be rather low-key. Sad, I know, but this is our busiest time of year and we’re still keen to give the best service we can, even when we’ve got lots to celebrate. That said, you are always welcome to come in and join us for a tea/coffee and a chocolate or two if you’re passing by!

Tom