You may have gleaned some useful ideas from the many 'House Doctor' television programmes which offer advice on how to sell your property in order to obtain the highest price.

Even so, it's still often productive to chat with our experienced professional about how to get your house looking at its best for marketing.  Colour schemes in particular are worth considering.  For instance did you know that green is one of the best colours for selling and that blue is one of the worst?  Some colours make rooms look large and bright, and other colours have the opposite effect.  We have listed below some ideas to help you maximise your house price.  None of these ideas are rocket science, but they may give you food for thought and, this list may serve as a useful check list before you put your property on the market.

1.  Kerb appeal.   Is your front door freshly painted?  Does the bell work? You can liven up your front door area with a coat of paint, a ceramic pot of fresh flowers, or even a new door mat.  Make sure your front gate is painted and in working order.  First impressions count!

2.  The entrance.   Ensure that your hallway is clear!  Second impressions count too! Make sure that you have cleared away the hoover, golf clubs and the childrens' shoes from the entrance way.   If the hall is dark put on a lamp and perhaps have some pretty flowers to liven up the entrance.   If you can get both your Kerb appeal and your entrance in order, you are well on the way to selling your house. 

3.  Pets and Children.  Remember what actors say about pets and children - well estate agents say it too!  Banish both!  If you have pets do remove all trace of them and if you think you might have just a whiff of animal in your home, invest in pot pourri and some good quality fragranced candles.  Remember to open any windows beforehand too, to help eliminate that pet smell.  Children can be quite intrusive and noisy, particularly when Mummy is showing people the house.  Ask a kind friend or a relative to take them for an ice cream.    Let your estate agent know what you are doing and they will try and make several appointments for viewings in a row,  in order to make it less hassle for you having to banish the cat, and the children for a few hours. 

4.  The Living Room.  This is one of the most important rooms in the house! If you have a fireplace lay the fire or better still light it.  If it is dark, light a lamp.  A few fresh flowers make all the difference, as does a nice "coffee table" book on an occasional table.  Do remember you are selling a home and a life style.  Lately, some House Doctor programmes were tending to promote rather cold and hostile 'laboratories', but thankfully the minimalist look is not so prevalent now.   Our experience is that a welcoming atmosphere appeals to more prospective purchasers.

5.  Kitchens.  Another big 'selling'  point.  Wash up, clean down the work surfaces.  'Dress' the kitchen for fun.  Put out a lovely bowl of coloured fruit, lay out some cookery books, place a bottle of wine and two wine glasses on the side.  Make your kitchen look a place of warmth.  Try not to have machines that buzz switched on when you have visitors.  Play some Radio 3 or Classic FM to relax the atmosphere.

6.  Bathrooms and cloakrooms.  If your bathroom and cloakroom are dull, liven them up with some brightly coloured plain towels, a plant or fresh flowers and a cake of matching soap.  

7.  Bedrooms.  Ensure beds are made!  Remove clutter and clothes from under the bed.  Very often a room is tidy except for a trail of clothes and old shoes poking from under the bed.  Pay attention to detail. Push in drawers, straighten pictures.  If your bedroom is messy, an old fashioned plain coloured bed cover will often pull the room together.  This, livened up with a throw or a couple of plain coloured cushions will work wonders.  Again, light the bedside table lamp or burn a good quality candle.

8.  Colours!   We have already mentioned that some colours are off-putting and some exude warmth.  Yellow and terracotta are good colours for selling, and green is deemed to be relaxing.  Blue can be cold and so can purple.  If you are planning on decorating do ask our opinion.  (The answer is usually ivory or magnolia when in doubt).  Remember that mirrors brighten up dark corners and corridors and a few occasional lamps work wonders. 

9.  Outside.   This is an area where so many of us let ourselves down.  There are a lot of firms in Angus that will come in for one day and clean up your garden.   Get the lawn mowed and put away the childrens' toys or at least stack them in one place.  Liven up a drab patio with some plant pots or flowering shrubs.  Remember you can always take them with you when you go. Don't forget a coat of creosote on that ailing fence may well make it look newer and fresher. 

There are lots more things you can do to make your house attractive and improve the chances of selling it well.  Ask us for an opinion or advice.  It is free!