by Stella Kaye

Created on: September 05, 2010

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN 'HOUSE DOCTOR'

To stage a home for a quick sale it's wise to work out an affordable budget first, before embarking on any serious redecoration.  You can easily become your home’s very own ‘House Doctor’ when armed with the correct information.

There's no point in redecorating if the kitchen units are obviously beyond repair. If your units have obviously seen better days then think about replacing the doors if the carcasses are still serviceable. A fresh coat of paint works wonders and can give a new lease of life to a dark and dated kitchen but the cupboards still need to be functional.

All appliances, fixtures and fittings included in the sale should at very least be in working order or have a fresh coat of paint. Cover-up jobs will just make matters worse and will only succeed in putting off otherwise enthusiastic prospective buyers. Unless your home is to be specifically marketed as a renovation project you must ensure that it has that ‘Ready to move into’ feel when you show these prospective buyers round.

If you can't afford the financial outlay to carry out the very basics of repairs all at once it would perhaps be prudent to concentrate on one room at a time or postpone marketing the property until a later date. The costs of moving can be prohibitive and sometimes financially crippling if costs are not thought out thoroughly and prioritised beforehand.

If cash is limited, just concentrate on making the property as neat, tidy and inviting as possible, including any outside areas and walkways. Always make the best use of natural light and colour schemes to give an illusion of space.

Whatever the internal proportions of your home it is possible to create a clutter free environment to give the illusion of space. A home with adequate storage will always appeal. Built-in furniture fitted in awkward corners can often open up space that would otherwise not be utilised. Clutter must be cleared away completely for all viewings and items of a personal nature removed from display.

Prospective purchasers want to imagine your home as a clean slate. They need to be given the opportunity to envisage what their own possessions would look like in situ so put your clutter away in storage, in the loft or anywhere else where it will not be on view to them. Remember you will have to pack it all away when you move! This point cannot be emphasised enough. Sellers are often stubborn and reluctant to acknowledge this fact but

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