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Presenting Your Property for Sale in Coventry

They say 'don't judge a book by its cover' but in the world of property, first impressions count. Buyers of properties for sale in Coventry will take around 30 seconds to make a judgement about a house or flat, and with a blink of an eye may reject a property based just on how it looks.

The aesthetics of a property are very important say Coventry estate agents, especially in a market driven by online property portals and smartphone usage. Whether potential buyers are refreshing the pages of Rightmove or have set up multiple property alerts, most will head straight for the image section of the property details. And don't forget potential purchasers will be able to zoom in on digital images.

Frequently viewed houses and flats for sale in Coventry tend to have the most attractive photographs, so improving 'buyer appeal' before an estate agent comes to take photographs is crucial. Here's some advice on how to present a property for sale:

Provide a neutral backdrop inside - there is nothing wrong with colour and, in fact, flats and houses for sale in Coventry that look vibrant always attract interest. The '20:80 ratio' rule works well - 20% colour and 80% neutral decor. Translated this means cream, white or magnolia walls with accents of colour introduced by way of cushions, rugs, artwork and window dressings. This may mean whitewashing the ocean blue bedroom but strong colours on every wall can 'blind' buyers who fail to see beyond the decor.

Keep kerb appeal in mind - many Coventry estate agents will make the exterior shot of a property the main image they use on property particulars in print and online. Considering it is probably the first photo a potential buyer will see, it's worth paying attention to front gardens and façades. Ensure that lawns and flower beds are weed-free and neat, hide any recycling boxes or wheelie bins, sweep paths free of fallen leaves and litter, wash windows, ensure any outside lighting is working - especially with evening viewings in mind - and repaint the front door if it looks tatty.

Banish clutter - those viewing properties for sale in Coventry will need to be able to imagine themselves living in a property currently owned by someone else. With this in mind, keep clutter to an absolute minimum. Hotspots for mess include hallways - especially by the front door, kitchen work surfaces and bathroom shelves. Having clear spaces allows viewers to mentally place their own effects in someone else's space. A streamlined home also feels more spacious and enables viewers to move around with ease.

Don't let any property photography date - it sounds simple and in a fast-moving property market might not even be applicable, but it's worth considering how long a property might stay up for sale. Enticing interest with fresh-cut flowers on the table is a good idea but a bunch of daffodils photographed in March will ring alarm bells if the property is still listed in June. Likewise, Christmas decorations on property particulars distributed in February will show how long the property has been unsold. It's wise to remove any strong seasonal accessories or re-invite the Coventry estate agent back round to take a new set of images.

On the day of photography - while a skilful photographer and fancy editing packages can make properties for sale in Coventry sparkle, sellers can do themselves a favour by being ready to have their property photographed. Windows should be clean and curtains/blinds open to let in natural light. Some household items never look good in photographs and these include: oven gloves; drying laundry; tea towels; excessive amounts of toiletries on display; flannels; washing machine drums with washing still inside; loos with the seat up; televisions turned on and unmade beds/crumpled linen. A quick room check before the photographer arrives is advisable as even the smallest of adjustments can make a big difference.

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