When you live in a home you get used to it and stop seeing details that weigh heavily during a viewing. None of these five needs building work; together, they can drag out the sale and push offers down.
They go from the smallest impact to the biggest.
What do buyers see that you no longer notice?
5. Visual clutter
A full home looks smaller than it is. Buyers are buying square metres, not furniture: clear the surfaces, free up the walkways and let the space breathe.
4. Smells
Tobacco, damp, pets. You no longer notice them, but they are the first thing a visitor remembers. Air the home every day and remove the source; don't cover it up with air fresheners.
3. Very personal paint
Dark or bold colours take away light and put people off. A neutral tone is not giving up your taste: it makes rooms feel larger and lets buyers picture themselves living there.
2. Visible maintenance you have put off
A dripping tap, a broken shutter, a damp patch. Buyers don't see a small fault: they assume that if this is in that state, what they can't see will be worse. Fix what is visible before the first viewing.
1. The first impression, the one that costs most
The entrance to the home and the first photo of the listing. If those two fail, buyers lose interest before they walk in. Look after the first two metres and the cover photo above everything else.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to renovate my home to sell it better?
No. None of these five points needs building work: decluttering, airing the home, painting in a neutral tone, fixing what is visible and looking after the entrance and the first photo.
What takes the most value away when selling a home?
The first impression: the entrance and the first photo of the listing. If those two fail, buyers lose interest before they walk in.
Do air fresheners help with smells?
No. You no longer notice tobacco, damp or pets, but visitors do. Air the home every day and remove the source; don't mask it.
Why paint in a neutral tone if I like my colour?
Because dark or bold colours take away light and put people off. A neutral tone makes the space feel larger and lets buyers picture themselves living there.
