When you put your property up for sale it is important to hit the ground running, you do not want to be marketing a property that is nowhere near ready to be viewed. By painstakingly preparing your property for the sale process, you give yourself the best chances of success. What is essential is to remove emotion from the process, if you are still viewing your property as a home, this needs to be changed; ultimately it is a commodity and the sooner you think of it like that the better.



Part of removing emotion from the sale process is to make your property as anonymous as possible. While you may love the orange walls that give it character, if you visit a show home you will see subtle shades that let anyone believe that they could live in this home. This strategy relies upon psychology; by presenting a property that potential buyers can see as 'theirs' the chances of securing a sale are greater. Conversely, if your property is heavily personalised to your taste, with items such as family photos and collectibles, it is likely you will put more buyers off than convince them yours is the perfect property to buy.

The kitchen is most probably the most important room in the house when trying to attract potential buyers. Fundamentally, for a quick and profitable sale you need to make the most of your kitchen. This means removing all of the clutter from the countertops and even removing some appliances that decrease the counter workspace. In addition, it is advisable to de-clutter the cupboards; buyers will almost certainly check them and if they are full to bursting, the effect is that the buyer will see a kitchen with little storage space. By clearing the cupboards you can create a kitchen that has oodles of space, even if it means moving non-essential items into storage.

These kitchen steps can be applied across the entire property. While a closet may be the ideal place to store away clutter, when buyers are looking around it is wise to keep to keep it is as clear as possible; once again this shows that the property has plenty of storage. In rooms such as the sitting room many houses have too much furniture that can increase the cluttered look; you are trying to create the illusion of space so it is advisable to remove the extra armchairs and sofas to increase the floor space. Ideally for this tactic you will need to rent some storage space nearby, while the attic and garage can hold excess belongings, these to should be as clear as possible, too full and the buyer may doubt that the property has enough space for their possessions.

The same can be said for the external areas of your property, if you want to see a sale in the near future, the gardens and front entry should be immaculate. The rear garden should be as tidy as possible, the lawn mowed and the foliage cut back neatly. If you have pets, it may be a nasty job, but keeping the lawn clear of the 'little presents' they leave behind is vital. Children's toys should also be cleared away to once again create the illusion of space. You should certainly make the most of your frontage; the front door should be clean and polished and the entrance hall should be light, airy and clear; welcoming the potential buyers into the property. Selling property is all about first impressions so your front garden and doorway are of fundamental importance.

By following this advice when you put your property up for sale you will be ready for the buyers. Hopefully by ensuring that clutter is at a minimum you will be able to make the best of your property, ensuring a quick and speedy sale.