Tips to make buyers want your house?

dianah

mufi wrote: »

These ideas are so cliched that if anyone actually did it, I would be far too busy rocking with cynical laughter to view the house.

i agree. the first house we viewed had just baked cookies in the oven - it did smell nice but my husband couldn't stop smirking. way too cliched and a bit old fashioned.
while i agree a 'home atmosphere' helps - we're buying a house that felt like a home rather than just a nice house - it's much better done with subtle things rather than the smell of home baked goodies screaming in your face.

i also agree with people who say they prefer for the owners not to be there - out of all the houses we went to see, there was only one with the vendor present and i did feel a bit awkward, i didn't feel like i could open the built in wardrobes to see how deep they are etc.
however, it's probably fair to point out that asking what would make a house appealing to potential buyers doesn't mean the vendors want to be present at viewings.

JimmyTheWig

dianah wrote: »

the first house we viewed had just baked cookies in the oven

As long as they shared, that would be fine with me...

dianah

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

As long as they shared, that would be fine with me...

:T unfortunately they were nowhere to be seen - i assumed they were still in the oven but perhaps febreeze does a fresh cookie scented spray!

dontpushit

I've bought 4 lots of cheap new duvets and duvet covers, nice cushions, throws, and leave them in the spare room. When we have a viewing all the regular duvets come off beds into boot of car and all the good stuff goes on, together with accessories. You'd never believe 2 smelly teenagers live in the bedrooms after they've been done over. People have commented on how immaculate it is! Also get rid of children and cat and hubby only makes an appearance towards end of viewing. House looks so good don't know why we're selling!!!!!!!!!! Fingers crossed sale soon!

googler

mufi wrote: »

Don't do what one vendor did - our greeting on rolling up to the viewing was an Alsation hurling itself against the perimeter fence:eek:.

Some owners just don't get it, do they?

One work colleague of mine told me of a viewing they did, as potential buyers, in a fairly decent area. They were greeted at the door by the man of the house, with his babe in arms. Father was fully dressed, baby was stark naked. Baby had obviously been changed in the last few mins, as the house was reeking of baby poo.

Father showed the viewers round the whole of the house, still carrying the naked baby, and waved goodbye to them the same way.

They didn't go back.

googler

justme111 wrote: »

grind some coffee before viewing

If you're going to do this, then get your finger out, MAKE some fresh coffee, and OFFER THE VIEWERS A CUP OR TWO.

Don't do it by half measures.

maya+2

im using the duvet trick, have a pristine white duvet that took too long to iron, thats reserved for viewing purposes only. I agree that the baking smell is a bit cliche, i've set up one of my kitchen counters that serves no real purpose due to it having no electrical socket as my baking counter, even tho i don't bake but i think it looks i homely there is a bread board some cooking books and jars of ingredients LOL.
I personally hate the smell of coffee, it reminds me of overworked teachers.

make sure u de clutter and make the most of the natural light, so swap any heavy curtains for lighter ones and make sure they are fully open when people view.

Person_one

jenny74 wrote: »

What a load of tripe! Sorry to be blunt but being asthmatic has nothing to do with cats! I am (moderately to occasionally severely) asthmatic and it has never stopped me keeping cats as pets. Now being allergic to cats would obviously be more of an issue... But even so, for it to prevent someone viewing a house is nonsensical and a bit extreme... It would be the cat that would be causing the allergy, not the house. A cat cannot permanently contaminamate a house... It can be cleaned!

I am both asthmatic and quite badly allergic to cats. When I moved into a house where two had been living I just gave the carpets and curtains a thorough clean and kept all the windows open for the first few days. No problems beyond a few sniffles on moving in day.

I'd never let 'cat status' put me off a property, I'd be more worried about if smokers lived there! I've seen some houses where everything is yellow and the smell is so strong I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. Any tips for that?

SusieT

Person_one wrote: »

I'd never let 'cat status' put me off a property, I'd be more worried about if smokers lived there! I've seen some houses where everything is yellow and the smell is so strong I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. Any tips for that?

I bought a property that was coated in yellow and had a very bad pong to it, neutrodol for carpets and general pong, windows open for a few days, the 2 rooms I knew needed redecorating got done very quickly and no problem from then on. I was lucky in that it was good weather when I moved in, plus my whole family joined in and we really attacked the place which helped so much.

jonewer

Make the rooms and garden bigger.