Eikestad

?It?s a good idea to spend a bit of money to make homes as presentable as possible. Basic things can make a big difference when it comes to getting your price.?

Here are ooba?s top tips for making your home saleable:

. Drop the price: To price a house correctly, choose three of the most active agents in your area and ask them for a valuation. Says Rushin: ?Tell the agent you want honest, realistic fi?gures, then apply a margin in excess of this figure, depending on how urgent the sale is.?

. Curb appeal: Don?t focus all your efforts on the inside. First impressions are created as prospective buyers approach the house. ?Mow the lawn, trim hedges, weed flower beds, plant a few striking shrubs so that it looks well-kept and tidy,? notes Rushin.

0 Declutter: Ask an honest friend who has not seen your property for a while to advise on what to hide or dump. Buyers can be turned off by kids and smelly dogs.

. Don?t stuff everything into cupboards: Tidying up doesn?t mean you should chuck everything into a cupboard and hope it doesn?t burst open. Potential buyers like to open cupboards to get a sense of the storage space.

. Remove spare furniture from bedrooms: But don?t turn rooms into barren spaces ? they can look surprisingly small when empty. According to Rushin, it?s also harder for buyers to imagine what the house will look like furnished.

. Definition: Make sure each room is equipped for the purpose it is intended for. Buyers will be better able to conceptualize a room?s purpose if it is obvious.

. Create an appealing social environment: If your home is sparsely decorated, it might require acquiring new furniture to give prospective buyers an impression of how they would live in the property.

. Do basic repairs: ?This is really important as buyers mark the price down the more work they see for themselves,? says Rushin. Do minor jobs that would improve the finish at little expense, e.g. touching up paintwork, filling cracks, regrouting, straightening cupboard doors, replacing or polishing door handles. Make sure you fix dripping taps, cracked panes of glass and peeling wallpaper.

. Clean: And then clean again. Make sure everywhere is spotless, particularly bathrooms and kitchens.

. Don?t spend money on expensive improvements: ?Making a home saleable is not about expensive or time-consuming improvements such as installing a new kitchen,? warns Rushin.

And finally, Rushin advises sellers to be patient: ?Don?t panic and don?t give up.?