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If your property has been on the market but nobody's making offers, don't panic.
There's no such thing as a unimprovable home. "What we essentially do is liquidise and spoon-feed the lifestyle that the buyer could have if they buy that property - and that can apply to any kind of property. Everyone thinks they can be a developer or an interior designer in a rising market when properties are easy to sell, but when the market starts to stick, you need fresh eyes to tell you what's wrong. It's about selling lifestyles." So if you are struggling to sell your lifestyle, along with your home, do what the experts recommend. Top tips
Drop the price "There is only one reason why a property does not sell in anything but the depths of a recession, and that is price," says Trevor Abrahmsohn from Glentree International, the man who recently sold Britain's most expensive new-build house, Toprak Mansion in London's Bishops Avenue for £41m. "Price is the catalyst or inhibitor behind any sale. I brace my clients for a dose of the truth, but it is far better to know where they are in order for them to plan the next step. Overprice and you get lots of footfall but no offers." To price a house correctly, Abrahmsohn advises, choose three of the most active agents in your area who have set price precedents in the past few weeks or months. Tell the agent you want honest, realistic figures, then apply whatever margin to the asking price in excess of this figure, depending how urgent the sale is.
Curb appeal Don't focus all your efforts on the inside; remember that first impressions are created as prospective buyers approach the building. "Tidy the garden, trim hedges, weed flower beds, plant a few conspicuous shrubs so that it looks well-kept and, above all, cut the lawn," says Trevor Abrahmsohn.
Declutter Ask a friend who has not seen your property for a while to advise on what to hide or throw, as their eyes aren't clouded by familiarity. And we're not just talking about inanimate possessions. "Children and dogs don't sell properties, so make them scarce," says Paul Edgington from Connells.
Don't stuff everything into cupboards, says Rupert Sweeting from Knight Frank. "You will never find anything and lots of potential buyers like a good snoop around and will want to open every single cupboard they can see to get a sense of the storage space available."
Move out spare furniture from the bedroom and cover the bed with an attractive bedspread. But don't turn rooms into a barren space as they can look surprisingly small when empty. It's also harder for a buyer to imagine what the house will look like furnished
Definition Make sure each room is kitted out for the purpose it is intended for - so bedrooms should look like bedrooms, not store rooms.
Create an appealing social environment It's not always about decluttering; sometimes the opposite is required, installing new furniture to give prospective buyers an impression of how they would live in the property.
Bring in the professionals "We come in and give a place a quick fix - a good clear out, facelift and blitz," says Suzy Maas from The Final Touch. "We're seeing a lot of desperate people coming to us because they've already reduced the price and just can't sell. Most people opt for smaller jobs, which take a couple of weeks from meeting the client to finishing."
Do basic repairs Go through each room and do any minor jobs you can see would improve the finish at little expense, such as touching up paintwork, filling cracks, regrouting, straightening cupboard doors, replacing/polishing door handles. Clean the windows. Reseal around the bath, sinks and shower and remove any mould. "It's important to complete all running repairs - mend dripping taps, cracked panes of glass and peeling wallpaper," says Rupert Sweeting from Knight Frank.
Clean, then clean again. Make sure everywhere is spotless, particularly bathrooms and kitchens.
When to redecorate? If the property is being sold for development or as a shell, there is no point tidying or painting. But if it is a potential family home that is looking a little shabby, then clean thoroughly and air the house - especially when there are pets - paint tired areas and replace carpet where necessary. Bright, neutral, clean and uncluttered properties are most appealing to the broadest range of prospective buyers.
Don't spend money on expensive improvements - new carpets throughout, new bathroom or kitchen, says Rupert Sweeting. "Don't redecorate any room using strong colours - and don't redecorate one room splendidly and leave the rest looking tired." Kerrie Keeling, who runs the all-female building/decorating company A Woman's Touch, says she is receiving a lot of pre-spring requests for redecorating properties in order to put them on the market. "People are rapidly trying to make their properties more palatable to a broader range of sellers without having to drop the price. The most common request among sellers at the moment is to replace carpets with laminate floors."
Don't overdo it Too colourful is bad - but so is too bland, says Simon Buhl-Davis. "People tend to personalise their properties too much, thinking that everyone will share their taste, but they often won't. So try to tone down the excesses where possible."
Don't apologise for your home's appearance to viewers - you have lived there happily (presumably), so there is no reason to make excuses. Leave the agent to handle any objections from potential buyers.
And finally.... Be patient, don't panic and don't give up. Accept that the time taken to sell properties has increased - Hometrack puts the figure at 8.5 weeks - and persistence will pay off.
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