How do you keep your house?

tootsmyboots

I had a best duvet cover ironed and rolled up neatly on a spare duvet, so if a viewing was happening I whipped the normal one off and changed it, also added a few scatter cushions. I worked out where I would put things I didnt want out, and had some boxes ready in each room to put certain things away in - it very quickly became part of the routine for prepping the house. I also had a hand held dyson hoover (very powerful) so whenever I saw crumbs I could whip them up, then did a big vacuum every other day. I just worked out a routine I could do and in the end I could stage the whole house in under an hour. Baby wipes are handy for whenever you see any mess on kitchen surfaces, bathroom units etc. I also had a special towel that came out for viewings only in the bathroom!!! I had a massive declutter before the photos were taken so it was much easier to keep it tidy.

Squish_21

Interesting thread. Only had 3 valuations so far and getting my place cleaned and de-cluttered for that was bad enough! Could be lots more cleaning frenzies to come!

Had a few boxes and put photo's and shampoo which wouldnt fit in the bathroom cabinet etc. in then stored it in the boot of our car.

olias

In my last house, I too, bought new duvets, pillows and duvet sets and kept them rolled up under the beds in our two bedrooms. Before a viewing, could just swap them for our creased, old usual ones to make the bedrooms appear really bright, fresh and clean. Costs very little if you just buy the value stuff from one of the supermarkets. Also rather than buy fresh flowers, get a flowering house plant. It costs about the same as a bunch of flowers, but lasts anything up to six weeks in bloom and makes a dining table or coffee table look lovely. Also bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen only costs about £2, but makes it look clean, fresh and pleasant.

Olias

azkaban420

Hehe interesting thread, we've got a kind of system going - it's impossible to keep the house spick and span all the time with three kids, but I ask my EAs to give me at least 1.5 hrs warning before a viewing (I'm very accommodating and hate saying no to a 'potential' buyer). It takes us about an hour to get the house spotless. The best duvet/throws/pillows get put ONTOP of our usual duvet (gets hidden anyway) and we stack usual pillows etc in our storage cupboard.

The bathroom has a small wicker basket with the 'nice' loo rolls, packs of tissues, and the co-ordinating towel which only comes out for viewings (I know, we are so fickle pmsl) and anything and everything else gets removed from kitchen worktops and into cuboards/oven/micro. It is bloody hard work, but no one has complained about the house being a tip, it's always 'very well presented'. I#m a perfectionist though, so I am forever sorting things out till the last second. It is a nightmare doing it constantly and I will be so glad to be done with all this malarky once it's sold!

Az

kprice580

I didn't think this thread would be so poular!

What great idea's everyone has. I never thought of using the dishwasher to hide things as mine is in need of repair and not been used for over a year lol!!!

Cheers guys
Katy x