Selling Your Home? First Impressions are Everything!

Last June we sold our first home after making heaps of improvements to it. Improvements that added value to its price-tag – Sure, the house didn’t get bigger or move to a better neighbourhood – but this didn’t matter. It’s all about perception and this is the golden rule when selling your house: First Impressions are Everything!

So before you think about putting your house on the market, you should first maximise its curb appeal. Here’s 3 simple ideas that will help to show off your house from the outside:

Exterior lighting not only makes the house look more attractive, (and even more so at night!) but it also helps to make the house feel more welcoming and homely. This is a great outdoor curb-appeal fix particularly if you’re selling your home in the winter months when viewings may take place in the dark! Not only does exterior lighting help you find your way to the front door, but it’s also great for security too! Having lighting on the outside of your home is proven to deter criminals from breaking in and security is certainly something lots of home-buyers look for. For a simple fix to jazz up the lighting around the outside of your home, check out Lights and Lighting for ideas.

If you have a front garden, this is particularly important for first impressions. Dig up those weeds, clear the path, get the pressure washer out, add some lawn food to promote a greener grass and decorate with a few garden accessories to add some character to your home and make it stand out from the rest of the street. If you don’t have a front garden (as none of our houses have!) you can still add a bright potted plant or a hanging basket with a welcoming doormat to spruce up the area. We’ve always gone for a colourful and personal house plaque too! Clean and tidy is a must though!

When a buyer looks at your home the first impression they will get of the inside will be through the windows. Therefore you want to make sure your windows are looking equally beautiful. Not only do they need to be clean, (ahem, get the window cleaner in!) they should also be well maintained with a fresh coat of paint if need-be. If you have window boxes – make sure they’re full of blooms! Putting some flowers on the window sill on the inside also helps to creates a great first impression too.

What’s your top tips for creating a great first impression when selling your home?