Spring is here at last, and spring cleaning is never more essential than when it comes to selling your home.

Small changes can make a huge difference to your property’s appearance and will stand you in good stead to make that all important sale. They don’t have to cost you hundreds of pounds either; a spare weekend and some elbow grease will do the trick!

l Paintwork: a fresh coat of neutral paint on the walls can do wonders for your home’s buyer appeal, and it won’t cost you a fortune. If your walls are already neutral then touching up any chips and scuffs is advisable, ideally with the original paint as often tester pots won’t match your paintwork exactly and can enhance marks rather than conceal them.

If your funds are limited and you have bold colour schemes, painting a feature wall in a neutral shade will help to tone it down and add a sense of space.

If you really can’t stretch to new paint, the solution is to wash the paintwork; you’ll be amazed at the difference soap and water makes.

  • Kitchens and bathrooms: The most important thing you can do here is clean them well. Your kitchen or bathroom may be state of the art or tired and dated, either way potential buyers will expect them to be hygienically clean and useable.

Don’t be deterred if yours are from another era. Buyers will be okay with that as long as they are able to use them and live with them in the short term, whatever their grand design plans may be. By having them spotlessly clean they become functional and non-offensive which gives buyers options, rather than simply to gut them.

Don’t forget to clean any in-built appliances in the kitchen.

  • Carpets: If your carpets haven’t had a good clean in the last six months then it’s strongly advisable to do so. This point cannot be emphasised enough if you have pets, are a smoker or have children. Whether or not potential buyers would look to change the carpets, if they’re clean and fresh they can be lived with initially and this will give your home Brownie points.

Opt for a professional cleaning service such as www.vaporclean.co.uk or hire yourself a rug doctor from your local B&Q from £22.98 for 24 hours.

  • Windows: Did you know that by cleaning your windows inside and out you can potentially let in a third more light? Buyers are searching for light airy properties and this is a simple task you can do to enhance your home.

Once they’ve had a thorough clean don’t obscure the light with net curtains or blinds. Make sure your window dressings are drawn back to let in as much daylight as possible.

  • De-clutter: If you are serious about selling your home, start packing now. It’ll save you enormously on time and stress when moving day comes.

Home buyers are often distracted by people’s belongings and want to envisage themselves and their furniture in your home, so less is definitely more.

Take a good, honest look at all your possessions, including furniture, and categorise them into piles of things which can be thrown away, given away or re-cycled, things that can be stored for the short term and things that are essential to your everyday living.

Ideally storage boxes should be stacked neatly in an attic or garage, and not eat into valuable floor space in your home.

Once you’ve completed these small but essential tasks you can stand back and admire the difference you’ve made in just a few short days, and so too will your potential home buyers.

  • Blossom Staging can be contacted on 07817 250046 or email nerys@blossomstaging.com