These are some short, sure fire ways of making the house inviting.
1) Clean your windows and open your curtains wide! the only exception to this is a window which over looks something really unsightly in which case invest in a white roller blind or etch the window.
2) Turn on the heating but plan for it to go off about half an hour before the buyers arrive. The house will feel comfortable and they will assume it is always like this.
3) never forget that fresh flowers can change a room. Daffs on a mantle piece, roses in a glass by the bed, Peonies on the draining board. It is an investment but if you buy in season you shouldn’t have to spend too much to make a fantastic difference.
3) Anything that smells, curries, football boots, wet dog blanket… it should all be banished from the house at least 48 hours before a viewing. Even with air freshening products the smell lingers in soft furnishings. The worst part is – if you live in it – you can’t smell it… so you’ll have to trust me on this one.
4) Don’t make it too perfect. If you have ever looked round a show home and thought it has no sole… that because there are no personal touches. Be strategic about leaving some items out to create the feeling of a loved home that is used. Examples of this can be a chopping board with some fresh herbs on it, an open book in the lounge (a large coffee table book works best open on the table) a nice necklace and a hairbrush on a dressing table. These small touches make the house feel lived in and allow the buyers to feel they could live there too.
5) if you’ve chosen to introduce new items into the house for some colour / texture. Vary where you buy the pieces from. It is very easy to identify a house which has had the ‘ikea’ treatment. If buyers think you are cheap they will offer less money.