Put yourself in the buyer's shoes and you will sell your flat more easily

Sellers of flats and other properties often forget small details that matter enormously to buyers. What seems to the seller an insignificant nuance can affect the buyer's overall impression of the property and create a negative impression of the owner as well. That is why it is sometimes worth putting yourself in the buyer's shoes and assessing the property through their eyes. What should you pay the most attention to? We offer some tips in today's article.

Mess

Tidiness in a flat often seems completely unimportant to sellers. After all, if the transaction goes ahead, none of the things in the property will be there after the purchase. But the principle that "we eat with our eyes first" applies here: the better the flat looks during the first viewing, the more positive the buyer's impression of the property. It works just as it does with people we have just met. We can make a good first impression only once, so it is best not to waste that chance on unnecessary mess.

Smell

Every interior that is used daily soaks up various smells, producing a mixture that the occupants are so used to that they do not notice it at all. It is different when someone new enters the room. They will notice the smell of the flat straight away. It is therefore good for it to be pleasant, otherwise the buyer will start to feel that something does not suit them, without knowing what, and will give up on further negotiations. Before every viewing it is a good idea to air the rooms thoroughly and use air fresheners.

Family mementos

Hardly anyone pays attention to this aspect, and that is a big mistake. Too many family photographs, children's drawings and similar items make it hard for the viewer to picture themselves as the potential owner. Ever-present personal belongings remind them that they are not at home, which makes it harder to identify with the interior.

It is therefore worth clearing the space of personal items before a viewing so that the interior looks as neutral as possible.

Occupants

The residents should not be in the property during a viewing. The presence of the whole family will only make the potential buyer feel uncomfortable: feeling like an intruder, they will want to withdraw as quickly as possible instead of looking carefully round the flat and asking about the details. The issue is similar to that of the mementos: the presence of the whole family makes it harder to imagine the flat as one's own, which in turn puts people off buying.

Animals

It is also better to leave pets with someone else while the premises are being shown. We may come across a person who does not like animals, is allergic, or, even worse, has a phobia. In that situation the buyer will flee our flat before they have had a chance to see it properly. It is not worth the risk. Let us also remember to clean the rooms thoroughly of animal hair, which does not make a very good impression.

Hidden defects

The rule here is simple: let us not conceal any defects of the property. We mean all shortcomings. This will build the buyer's trust and, contrary to appearances, increase the chance of selling the flat. It is worse if the viewer discovers some faults themselves that we did not admit to earlier. That will effectively lower their trust in us and discourage them even from considering a purchase. The thought will arise in their head: "if I was not told about this, what else might the owners be hiding from me?"

This short list of the most common mistakes made by flat sellers shows that the devil is in the detail and we must not forget it. To be sure that our flat is 100% ready for presentation to buyers, it is worth using the services of a professional estate agent, who will take care of every detail and present our premises in the best light.