By Valerie Nielsen
When it comes to selling a house, more and more homeowners are choosing to conduct their own viewings rather than involve the estate agent.
There are plenty of benefits to this – it makes arranging appointments much easier, it’s a money-saver in an already expensive process, and no one else will be an expert in your home quite like you!
This article gives just a few pointers on how you – and your home – can make a good impression with buyers while showing them around.
1. Dress it up
You might have heard that the colour yellow provides subconscious enticement to potential buyers.
But there’s no need to repaint your whole house to make a sale – whilst buyers do take note of things like décor, they’re much more likely to be imagining themselves living there, with their own decoration and furniture, than to be comparing your selections to the Dulux colour chart.
Nevertheless, a few simple additions can make a good impression on your buyers, and can even be a talking point! Houseplants and ornaments are the perfect finishing touch for a room, and if you’re feeling really ambitious, why not make something yourself? Pick up some fabric from a craft store to make your own curtains, or get experimental with an amazing architectural sculpture Ormiston Wire for a statement piece!
2. Pets away
Not everyone is a cat, dog, rabbit, lizard, snake or tarantula person.
So you might be better off asking a neighbour or friend to take care of your pets for an afternoon whilst your viewers come round.
While you’re at it, maybe get them to have a sniff around too – you may well be desensitised to the smell of cat litter, or wet dog on the sofa, but your potential buyers certainly won’t be, and that’s the sort of thing that can put them off instantly.
If you’re really struggling with the smell, an air purifier is a great way to neutralise pungent odours, whilst candles are perfect for a warm and welcoming aroma.
3. Keep it friendly
Obviously, your viewers are there to see the house and not you.
But first impressions count, and they’re going to imagine themselves making your house into their home, prospective buyers need to feel welcome instantly.
Don’t be afraid to make conversation – ask them about themselves, what do they do, how far have they travelled, are they local? An offer of a cup of tea never goes amiss!
Building that rapport puts viewers at ease and allows them to focus on your wonderful home to work out whether it’s the right fit for them.
Be careful with your pitch, too – unless you’re a seasoned sales professional, a hard sell runs the risk of putting them off faster than you can say “sold.” By making them comfortable, they’ll be much more forthcoming with any questions they have, which is a much more effective way to converse than bombarding them with information.
These three tips should help when it comes to that all-important step of selling your home.
