First things first

Top Tips on: Winter grooming

Spring is the traditional selling season, but there are still plenty of home hunters through the gloomy winter months. Make your home seem cosy  and inviting without the drawcards of sunny outdoor living:

1. Kill the mould:  Damp and mould make buyers worry about leaks, poor insulation and horrendous heating bills. Thoroughly scrub all paths, exterior and interior paintwork and joinery _ even fences and garage doors. Be sure to use the correct products recommended for your surfaces so that you don't cause more damage. Focus on areas on the south of the house that don't get sun at this time of year.

2. Open home: Make sure there are enough dry walking places for buyers to explore your whole property and not be put off by muddy backyards. Consider adding stepping stones or gravel paths, and brief your agent to  unlock all the exterior doors so that buyers can get out for a look.

3. Lighten the garden: Trim back trees hanging over paths or windows and add some winter flowering or structural plants to fill the gaps. Clean and de-mould the pool and spa (or winter buyers notice the work, not the pleasure of a pool). Break the eco-rules and  maintain a warm temperature, display a stack of poolside towels to show year-round use.

4. Freshen the air:  A closed up winter house can quickly smell musty and damp, or of old smoke, so do a ``smell test''. On sunny, windy days, throw open the windows and doors to air everything, use a neutraliser, fresh flowers or (mild) scented candles.

5. Warm welcome: Heat the house well before agent and buyers show up for open houses. Light the fire (all of them), prop it with a smart wood basket and tools. If you don't have central heating, turn on background heat in bedrooms or the hallway.

6. Cosy up:  Add visual warmth, especially in a minimal or modern house: warm coloured cushions, a luxury throw, a fluffy rug in colours such as red,  gold,  orange or chocolate (rather than cooling blues, greens or silvers).

7. Winter tastes:  Winter is all about cosy meals, gathering around the fire, snuggling up. So create  indoor cosy spots _ a reading corner with books and a lamp, a ``home theatre'' with easy chairs and a bowl of popcorn.

In the kitchen, add big bowls of bright oranges or pumpkins, a recipe book open on warm winter stews, a table set with warming colours.

Categories: News , Selling a home