Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, demand for property was such that pretty much all you had to do to get your house sold was stick a ‘for sale’ sign in the front garden and name your price. Since the credit crunch came and spoiled our fun, though, it’s common for properties to languish on the market for months on end with vendors struggling to even get viewings, never mind about sales.

Financial analysts may be predicting that the worst is over, but it will be a long time before we see a return to the good old days when people were snapping up houses like Primark t-shirts, and so it’s more important than ever to make every viewing of your property count.

They say buyers form an opinion about a property within 30 seconds of stepping through the door so when it comes to selling your home, first impressions are crucial. Here are our top five property turn-offs for prospective buyers – and how to avoid them!

1.Overpricing

The fact that the value of your property may have nosedived over the past 18 months or so is hard to swallow – but this is not the time for self delusion. If you really need to sell, you have to be realistic about the price at which your property will appeal to buyers in the current market or they won’t even take the time to view the property. Do some research; ask several estate agents in your area for guidance and take their advice – they are the professionals after all! It’s perfectly acceptable to start with a slightly higher asking price to gauge interest, but you must be prepared to lower it if there’s no real interest.

2.Poor presentation

You see your home every single day, but when it comes to putting it on the market, you need to try and see it through new eyes – a buyer’s eyes. It’s vital that you show off your home’s full potential so make sure all rooms are furnished appropriately – for example, if you use your dining room as a home office, for viewing purposes it’s best to show it as a dining room. Likewise, even if you don’t use your spare room, make sure there is a bed and perhaps a wardrobe in there. Rooms actually tend to look bigger when there’s furniture in them and this is especially important if space is tight – a buyer will want visual proof that the rooms in your home work on a practical level.

Also, never underestimate the power of staging when it comes to selling a house. It’s all about showing buyers the lifestyle they could enjoy if they lived in your property. Everyone that’s looking to move house aspires to a higher standard of living than they currently have so try and make your house appeal to their senses as well as their wallets. Interiors magazines are a great place to find ideas on dressing your home appropriately – things like laying the table with your best crockery and glassware, putting out a pile of fresh towels in the bathroom, dressing beds with hotel-style plump pillows and throws will help your home to make a good impression. Scent is also key – the smell of freshly-brewed coffee or bread baking in the oven is proven to induce the production of ‘happy hormones’ in the human brain – they’ll the falling over themselves to make you an offer!

3.The ick factor

Sounds obvious but a big turn-off for buyers is a home that looks, or worse, smells dirty – it has the opposite effect to the ‘baking bread’ trick mentioned above and will actually give buyers a negative impression even if they can’t put their finger on the reasons why they don’t like your home. Before you put your house on the market, do a deep clean including carpets and soft furnishings to get rid of any odours – especially if you are a smoker or have pets. With regular maintenance you should be able to keep it clean and smelling fresh for viewings – and don’t forget to banish pets when people come to look around.

Clutter is another big no-no and can make even the most spacious home seem poky and dark. If you’re prone to hoarding you need to be really ruthless (or find a friend who is!) and get rid of items you no longer need – give them to charity or sell them on internet auction sites. Not only will you make your current home more appealing to buyers, you’ll also make life a lot easier when it comes to moving out.

4.Making it personal

For a potential buyer to put in a bid on your house, they need to be able to picture themselves living there – as we’ve said, it’s all about selling them a lifestyle. But if your lifestyle involves loud wallpaper, brightly painted walls and hundreds of family photos, it can really put buyers off! It sounds impersonal but when trying to sell your home you should try to erase as much of your personality as possible without creating a clinical, unwelcoming atmosphere.
It’s worth thinking about giving your walls a fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour, revamping tired sofas with fresh new throws and putting personal objects like framed photos, kids’ artwork etc. in storage until you move. You can still give your home personality with carefully chosen items such as a striking artwork or funky statement cushions – these things are worth investing in because you can then take them with you to your next property.

5.Keeping schtum

Buyers coming to view your home will more often than not be accompanied by your estate agent, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have an active role to play in the viewing itself. This is your one and only opportunity to let potential buyers know how great your house is! We’re not suggesting you stalk them around the house bombarding them with information, but a few well-timed and pertinent comments can make a buyer see your house in a whole new way. If you really love your large family bathroom, for example, point out that it’s a lifesaver on busy weekday mornings.

Or tell them how much you’ve enjoyed using the patio for barbecues in summer – again, it’s all about painting a picture of how great life could be if they lived here.

Just be careful you don’t convince yourself to stay!