Once you have decided to sell your home, you face the final if not critical task of presenting your home to potential buyers. Although this may seem a daunting and expensive task, it could mean the chance of an early sale or even improve your chance against a similar property in the street. For as little as £50 spent on inexpensive paints and soft furnishings, and by removing excess items and a fair bit of elbow grease, you can add value to your home and increase its chances of being sold.

First impressions
What people see on their initial visit to your home will set it apart from the rest of the properties on their list. So it is important to set the scene for selling!
Clean and clear the entrance to the house. Cut the lawns and remove excess items from the main viewing areas of the property. Repair any obvious horrors and place an attractive plant near the front door if space allows.
Wash obvious marks off doors, walls, light switches and often used areas such as halls and stair areas. This sounds a bit over the top, but a clean and bright entrance really does create the right impression.
Make sure pets and family are out of the house. Too many people, animals and loud music can unnerve and rush potential buyers.
Avoid cooking that wonderful but odorous meal the night before. Use air fresheners sparingly, it is far better to open the window or percolate some fresh coffee!

Keep it light
If every room is covered with heavy coloured or patterned wallpaper, you run the risk of making it look small and cramped. A simple and inexpensive solution, is to use a light or neutral paint (this does not have to be stark white) in soft whites with perhaps a hint of almond or wheat to keep the room feeling light but warm. Most DIY stores have extensive and inexpensive ranges to choose from.
Wash curtains, nets and clean the glass (yes boring but this does improve the overall impression). If you have a view show it! Remove display items from the sills and open the curtains or blinds as far as possible.

Best foot forward
If you can, invest in an inexpensive piece of carpet or rug to brighten up the main room of the house. This will create a fresh and bright impression to your buyers, plus you can always take the carpet with you when you go!

Create space
Remove the clutter! Regardless of how beautiful or expensive your furniture and objects are, you are trying to sell your property not possessions!
To make the room appear larger and to let potential buyers gauge the true space of the room, it is best to remove any unnecessary furniture, clutter off ledges, tabletops and shelving, and rearrange the furniture