Attract more buyers and sell faster for the best price with Lisa's top 10 property presentation tips.

It’s not luck that makes a home sell quickly for the very best price, it’s the right presentation. Here are 10 basic presentation tips that will ensure your property is a desirable home that buyers must have:

Maximise Kerb appeal.

You only get one chance to make a good first impression so the front of your house is a good place to spend a little extra time and money. Weed and power wash the drive and path, use planters and urns to add colour and interest, remove leaves and debris, repaint tired paintwork, and get a brand-new neutral doormat.

Spring Clean.

Nobody wants to live with someone else’s dirt! Your home must sparkle! Spring Clean your house from top to bottom before putting it on the market. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom, and if you have pets, consider getting your carpets professionally cleaned to remove hairs and odours.

Fix it!

All those little DIY jobs that you’ve learned to live with will send the wrong message to buyers. While they might seem insignificant to you, they will signal to a buyer that there might be things that are more important unattended.

Eliminate Clutter.

Clutter makes homes seem smaller and disorganised; will make selling your home harder, and potentially less profitable. Therefore, if you want to sell for the best price in the shortest time, eliminate clutter – it doesn’t cost anything and you’ll need to pack everything up soon anyway!

Neutralise.

Neutral colours sell. Fact! You want potential buyers to walk through your home imagining living there. This is difficult if you have personal styles, patterns and colours. Patterns and colours can also make rooms seem darker and smaller, whereas light neutral colours will brighten rooms and make them seem bigger.

De-personalise.

This might be hard for you, but it is vital! We love our personal things - it reflects our memories, hobbies, and values. However, buying a home is an emotional decision, and you want potential buyers to make an emotional connection with your home by being able to "see" themselves in it. Too much of you and your family will make this difficult. Like de-cluttering, de-personalising doesn’t cost anything and you’ll need to pack everything up soon anyway!

Pets.

Always keep your pets under control. Try confining them to a specific area and take them out for viewings at the very least. Although you may love your pets, they can be off-putting to other people, and smells can be offensive, so make sure there are no lingering odours in furniture or flooring, and if there is, get them cleaned before you put your home on the market.

Define each area.

Think of the basic needs your likely buyers will have ... sleeping, eating, working, playing, relaxing, etc. Make a point of creating a space for each of them within your home. Bedrooms are for sleeping, dining rooms for eating etc. Sell the lifestyle and you will sell your house.

Lighting.

Make sure you have adequate lighting in every room. Replace energy efficient bulbs with 100-watt bulbs in darker areas such as the hall and use subtle mood lighting to create the right atmosphere in bedrooms and living rooms. For daytime viewing try to ensure you let as much natural light in as possible.

Accessories.

Use mirrors to reflect light and space, plants and fresh flowers to bring life to rooms and add a natural fragrance, new fluffy towels work well in bathrooms and white duvet covers are best for bedrooms. You can add a splash of colour to your neutral decor with colour coordinated cushions, throws, a dining table runner etc.