Putting house on market - how to make it sparkle??

shell2001

Hi

We are putting our house on the market so wondered if anyone had any advise for making the whole place sparkle and smell nice.

We have wooden units in the kitchen as was thinking of getting some of that orange oil stuff to brighten them up - anyone have a HM alternative?

Also bathroom tiles (in shower area in particular) again any ideas to keep them sparkling?

Am a bit worried that now I make my own bread people are gonna come in and think its for there benefit!

We also have a conservatory that has glass window from floor to ceiling - we also have a 2 and 3 year olds. Any quick window cleaning tips??

Any other advice would be more than welcomed.

Ted_Hutchinson

Top tips from our local style guide expert

tawnyowls

[QUOTE=shell2001
We have wooden units in the kitchen as was thinking of getting some of that orange oil stuff to brighten them up - anyone have a HM alternative?
Also bathroom tiles (in shower area in particular) again any ideas to keep them sparkling?
[/QUOTE]

Stardrops, Stardrops, Stardrops!
Sainsbury's, Wilkinsons (cheapest at 58p) and other supermarkets.

[QUOTE=shell2001
We also have a conservatory that has glass window from floor to ceiling - we also have a 2 and 3 year olds. Any quick window cleaning tips??
[/QUOTE]

I always use a bit of washing-up liquid in water, wash the window with a sponge, dry most of it off with the bath towels that are destined for the wash that day anyway, and finish off with scrunched-up newspaper. Totally smear-free and sparkling. Could try arranging the furniture so the kids are kept away from most of the windows - that should cut down the cleaning a bit. Having said that, the kids' fingerprints are unlikely to be at the level that people will be looking at anyway.

Other tips - go down to the library and get hold of the House Doctor books; she is the original and the best!

morgansmummy

We are in same situation - ours on market, much cleaning!! I also have a 22 month old who thinks it's his duty to take out everything that I have just tidied up!!

I have to say that since finding this site I am amazinglyt grateful for the find that was Stardops...I know it's been done to death, but we have forest green tiles in our bathroom (sound disgusting, but we have a huge bathroom and they do work). I am driving OH mad by going on about the fact that we can now see our reflection in these tiles!!!

The other thing I wanted to say was PLEASE don't go mad on the "nice smell to sell your house" thing. We have now seen too many houses with smelly candles, bread, coffee going on. IMHO it is distracting. We have found our perfect house, had an offer acceted, but she so nearly put me off with her glade obsession!!!

We had accepted an offe ron our house, it fell through, but I am conviced we will get another pretty soon, based on a clean, decluttered "normal" living environment!

Good luck!!

MM x

shell2001

Thank you both. I would rather have a nice clean smell than perfume ala Ami P**e. Guess will have to do my baking after viewings, really don't want people to think I am desperate (which I am to sell of course!). I remember last time we were looking at houses one woman had set the table - the full works, and said we will be having dinner shortly. Went in kitchen nothing in the oven or on the hob and as it was a sunday lunchtime not sure what they were gonna eat that involved the best crystal? Still at least she made an effort, another property we viewed still had the Christmas tree up in April.

Looks like stardrops it is then. Do you water it down and put it in a spray for cleaning?

Becles

Get a good friend or relative to go around your house as a perspective buyer and point out all the off putting things - got to be someone you can take the critism from and not fall out over!

You'd be surprised at what you don't see, but a fresh pair of eyes will spot!

doddsy

A real turn off for me are sticky door handles, specially the round knob ones. You grasp the handle and then euwwwwgh!
doddsy

Horasio

Declutter, declutter, declutter

lClean windows and house is vital, no-one wants dirt. Also clean the place when you leave too.

Overbearing smells make me suspicious, obviously boiled cabbage or worse isn't attractive but a natural odourless house is best

apples1

I think fresh air is much much better than any air freshener. Open windows to air house before viewings. Simple fresh flowers on tables and fresh fruit in bowl in kitchen. No clutter - box or bag up everything that you don't have a home for and hide the bags/boxes (in garage, at friends, neighbours anywhere!) Make sure bathrooms and kitchen are spotless and have nice fluffy fresh towels out.

Good luck

Horasio

apples1 wrote:

I think fresh air is much much better than any air freshener. Open windows to air house before viewings. Simple fresh flowers on tables and fresh fruit in bowl in kitchen. No clutter - box or bag up everything that you don't have a home for and hide the bags/boxes (in garage, at friends, neighbours anywhere!) Make sure bathrooms and kitchen are spotless and have nice fluffy fresh towels out.

Good luck

Funnily enough your user name inspired me to use the apples from our tree. I used to work in a greengrocer and the smell of apples was divine:)

Gingham_Ribbon

Have a look at the cleaning section in the mega index for more ideas.

I like water with a big splash of vinegar in a spray bottle for my windows (with newspaper.)