First impressions are everything – and your home is no different! When selling your home it is important to ensure your home seems appealing, tidy, and problem-free to a potential buyer. Here are 9 things you can do it boost the appeal of your home.

1. Spruce up the place

It is important for your home to look presentable and ready for sale. Therefore, basic repairs are a must. Repaint any areas where the paintwork is scuffed and repair cracked windows. A potential buyer can be put off when thinking of all the work they will have to do to get the property ‘up to scratch’, and may be reluctant to make a larger offer on the home after considering repair costs and time required.

2. Neutral colours are your friend

While they can be stylish and eye-catching, brightly coloured walls are not for everyone. Painting the inside of the home in neutral colours takes away the “oh, I’ll need to fix that” mentality in potential buyers who will be walking through. Those who prefer neutrality will be at ease, and those who prefer a pop of colour will see a fresh canvas.

3. Tidy up

A cleaner home positions potential buyers to believe the home is well cared for and that it is unlikely to have hidden issues they might discover after purchasing. So get vacuuming! Mop the floors and scrub the windows. Ensure you clean behind the doors and toilets. Professional cleaning is also an option; we can't all be Snow White.

Clutter makes it difficult to properly view each room and causes distractions. Remember to pick the clothes up from the floor and put your dishes away!

4. Be impersonal

Too many personal items such as family photos or religious icons can limit a buyer’s imagination. It’s important for buyers to connect with your home emotionally by being able to imagine themselves living there. By putting away your children’s finger paintings and tucking away their school photos temporarily, you are making it easier for a potential buyer to establish an emotional connection with the home.

5. Keep your wardrobe organised

Don’t just throw your clothes in and close the door. Buyers will open built-in wardrobes to see how much space they have; and they don’t want a stranger’s clothes bursting through the doors.

Walk-in wardrobes are a huge selling point for a property – so it’s important to ensure it is clean and organised. Overstuffed or messy wardrobes make the space appear lacking.

6. Use your senses – especially your nose!

While we may not notice smells we are used to, potential buyers will. Ensure you clean your drains and dishwasher to eliminate odours in the kitchen and bathrooms. Ensure you light some scented candles and make good use of air freshener if you have pets inside. If you smoke cigarettes, do so away from the house so the smell doesn’t travel indoors.

It pays to get a friend to walk through your home to check for any smells you might not notice!

7. Compare your home with other properties for sale in your area

Look at their photos online. What do you like or dislike about their images? What makes them attractive? Look at what you have achieved with your own home so far and take further inspiration.

8. Don’t skip on the exterior!

Curb appeal very important. The front of the home is the first thing people see and this is where their first impressions will come from. Remove any weeds from the garden and ensure the grass is evenly mowed.

While a nice garden is favourable, people typically don’t like to see them growing from their gutters. Climb that ladder and ensure your gutters are clean and clear. Take a pressure washer to your bricks or render.

As for the backyard, ensure it is tidy and free of obstacles such as toys or bicycles laying down. Tidy up any broken garden pots or half-finished DIY projects so your potential buyers are free from negative distractions.

9. Give equal attention to all areas of your property

Especially the ones you rarely use. A potential buyer will want to see everything – the vegetable garden you gave up on last year, the space between the shed and the fence, all of it. To a potential buyer, everything is fresh and new. It is important that the presentation of your home reflects this.