Would it put you off

Use an online agent such as Purple Bricks and save yourself a ton of money. Last time I had agents to show people round they hardly spoke to the viewers other than a cursory- here's the kitchen/lounge type comment and it was me who chatted away about the area and schools. Sometimes I showed people around without the agent there so I wouldn't waste my money on them again especially as they wanted to market it below the price I wanted.

It always used to annoy me when I used to watch those making houses over for sale programmes that potential buyers would walk around and talk more about the pictures on the wall, or even the décor, more than the structure and layout of the property. So many lack any imagination at all but what business are the current owner's pictures to a potential buyer? I can see not having things too cluttered but it seems ridiculous for people to have to remove photos. I can see that people do have to do it but it is a shame that buyers can be so thick and that others have to adjust for it.

On my agent's advice (my SIL) I took down all photos and depersonalised the house. It did look uncluttered. I made sure I always had a vase of fresh flowers on viewing days. When I moved into my new house, very few family photos went back up and the rest were put away and that was not to offend my DC as the photos were mainly of the DGC. I now prefer paintings to family pics on the walls and vases of flowers.

Yes, it's no use getting all indignant that people should be able to see past the personal stuff. If they can't, and all the evidence is that they can't, then do you want to sell for the best possible price? Or do you want to be sentimental and only sell to people whose taste is the same as yours? Either are valid but as a seller you have to decide and act accordingly.

I had people fighting over my house which I found incredible. We decorated and de cluttered and got more than what we asked. As for finding it hard to believe people don't like dogs. Many people have phobias and I'm one of them and I would find it hard to relax and look round a house with a dog In it.

As an ex-agent I have to agee I'm afraid. Some people get very uptight about religious symbols.
On another level- when we were moving- many years ago now- our buyers asked if they could put religious statues in our house prior to us moving out to purify the area before they moved in.
I'm afraid I refused. The sale fell through but I was not happy about it- it's bad enough clearing out all your own stuff without having to worry bout knocking over statues all over the place & they were not very attractive ether
( & we sold to a lovely young couple later)

It is helpful to your sale not to take professional advice personally. Your estate agent is not making a comment on your lifestyle, religion or family but is guiding you towards giving your potential purchasers a blank canvas on which to project their new life in your house. It will result in a higher price and you can take your beloveds with you.

Other must do's:-
clean smell (open the windows)
no traces visible or odorous of pets
cream walls and white woodwork
no clutter at all
makeover the bathroom and kitchen
paint the front door and add well watered and kept 'statement' plants like two box trees or olives in 'posh' planters
tidy the garden

Houses sell on price, size and location. My classic story is of a friend who had a house in a prosperous London suburb. I told her she was wasting her time re-decorating for sale, anyone buying in that price range would be sure to do an immediate make-over. It was better than that! The property was bought by someone you've all heard of for a member of his family. He didn't re-decorate. He demolished and built anew.

When selling a house you have to present a 'blank canvas'. This makes it easier for people to imagine their stuff in the house. Light walls with splashes of colour from soft furnishings etc. Look up 'Selling houses with Amanda Lamb' on channel 4 iplayer. She gives lots of very practical advice about preparing your home for sale.

Whenever we have bought houses, I always look up at the ceiling. This gives you an idea of how big the room really is without people's furniture, stuff etc. The ceiling space is the floor space.

When we bought this bungalow last year we knew that we did not like the kitchen - nice dark slate floor, but very very dark oak units that made the room look grim. We has the units painted cream and it now looks wonderful and light. We bought the bungalow for its flatness (!), spaciousness and for the lovely views. The dark floor is great and does not show the dirt - I am beginning to wonder whether I ought to wash it to celebrate being here a year!

The last home we bought was a gem - but on a hill, which is why we moved on eventually. It had totally uninterrupted fabulous country views, was south facing and had French doors and a balcony in the bedroom - wonderful! But - there was a dog who had lived there and the first thing we did was to strip the carpets out with their suspicious circular stains and dubious smell - yuk! Darned dogs!

Signed: Lady with no soul

What ever happened to is the garden big enough or too big?are there enough or too many bedrooms? how many loos?is it central heated or freezing cold when you open the door? etc etc
Cosmetic issues like photos, decorating preferences horrendous carpet are superfluous Are you buying something to live in or just look at ?
I give up.

When we last moved, after the first viewing, we decluttered and repainted some rooms. The feed back via the agent from visitors pre declutter was 'Its a bit small' and after was 'The rooms are quite spacious.' We had only cleared the mantelpiece and the kitchen surfaces.
Open windows, flowers etc. do help. The problem with clutter (even treasured ornaments) is that it gives the impression of no storage space-perhaps people envisage trying to find room for all your clutter as well as theirs.
I guess I have no soul, but houses that we looked at that either had dogs/cats in them or smelled of the animals were straight away a no for us. If animals sit on the furniture, it's immediately apparent to people who don't like dogs even if the furniture is covered with new throws.

sarahhellenwhitney I agree with you in principle that photos, idiosyncratic decoration, repulsive carpets, etc., should be overlooked as they are cosmetic issues that can be fairly easily resolved. But some people - and I include myself in that - find it difficult to visualise a potentially beautiful room when it has garish decoration and is overwhelmed with too much furniture and clutter.

That being the case, if you want to sell your house quickly it is probably better to follow the advice of those who know how to do it.

I've always decluttered before putting a house on the market - I'm sure it helps. Sadly people don't seem to have the imagination these days to see beyond personal things. It seems so petty, doesn't it, though?
You just need someone to fall in love with your house and they can do so for all sorts of reasons - to the way the sunlight comes in through the dining room window to a tree by the front fence in full blossom. Good luck.

Reading this, thank goodness we're not thinking of selling. We're not exactly cluttered but neither are we minimalist. And we have an avocado bathroom, maybe by the time we sell up to go into a nursing home avocado will have come full cycle and be fashionable again. I quite like it!

I agree with grannyknots. Your selling your house not your family.

I think most people's first sight of a house is through photos on a website and I suspect that anything that takes attention away from the house itself is a distraction and should be removed. Items such as a crucifix can surely be removed easily for photos and viewings then reinstalled at other times.

Whatever one's views of the rights and wrongs of marketing in this way, the aim is to sell the property. It isn't a personal criticism so I'd just do what it takes to make it more sellable.

Ana. Presumed you found yourself a non biased agent?

Luckygirl - I know you have a soul!
It's no secret I share my life with dogs, always have and hope I always will. However - my house does not smell of dogs, there isn't dog hair everywhere and if the dogs always go into their space (i.e. the big utility) when visitors arrive. I've sold two houses in which dogs, cats and children have lived - the houses all went quickly and we had no complaints via the agent or the buyers of any unpleasant odours. I know I've been flippant here and must acknowledge that in the course of my working life, I visited some dreadful grubby and malodorous homes. Honestly folks, it isn't the presence of pets or children, its the absence of thorough and frequent cleaning that's the problem.

When we pit our house up for sale the agent said have the smell of baking bread and fresh coffee around. It seemed to work!!!

The last thing I would ever do is instruct EA-cost a fortune for very little work in my experience Surely common sense says to tidy house and belongings up. I would be very reluctant to buy a house which had dogs/cats in I'm afraid. Don't care what you say-they smell!?

It's funny what can put some people off. Years ago someone we knew dismissed a house for sale because they viewed it at 12:30 and the beds weren't made

Have to agree with agent, no family photographs and definitely no crucifixes. Cats and dogs would be a big put-off too, just seeing their bowls in the kitchen would be enough for me to turn heel.

If you declutter really well and reset with flowers and the smell of coffee your home will look larger each room will have a more spacious feel about it. Buyers can then more easily see their own belongings in it. Also make sure there are no piles of books/ magazines. Hide them away. As someone else has said if you are selling your home is no longer your own and you will be free to make your new home just as you like it.