It’s strange how marketing your property makes you look at it differently. It’s not an easy thing to do either, to look dispassionately at something you’ve invested time, effort and love in.
Objectivity inevitably brings new awareness: perhaps it’s only now you realise that your carpet is slightly discoloured along the trails your family follow; maybe it really is time you tightened the handrail outside; whatever you’re seeing for the first time with your new “marketing” eyes, you can make transformational changes without taxing your savings.
Scuffs and marks on your walls can be easily banished with spot treatment. Baby-wipes, specialist spot treatments like magic erasers or a combination can handle most wear-and-tear marks. If you’ve mysterious marks on your carpet or upholstery, you can hire an appropriate cleaning device, with or without someone to do it for you. There’s a bit of effort involved, but it’s worth it for the results.
There are plenty of cleaning products available, but always follow instructions and always, always do spot testing if it’s being used somewhere highly visible. If all else fails, you could move your furniture around or get a rug, but do accept that if someone is interested in the property, they will look more deeply and may discover it for themselves. Now, that would be embarrassing.
Move or invest in table lamps – lighting can transform a mood with the (literal) flick of a switch. Add a subtle warmth to a room with up-lighters (or place lamps on a low surface, or even the floor if it’s safe to do so), which is perfect for bedrooms and boudoirs, but do make sure your kitchen and bathrooms have plenty of light available.
You can give any room an instant facelift with new soft furnishings: scatter cushions, bed linen, towels – they all inject colour, depth and texture. Change the handles on your cupboard doors: just remember to match the fixings, so you’re not needing to effect any repairs.
Add plants to your home. Choose plants that contribute to air quality, such as peace lilies, spider plants, bamboo and aloe vera. Pick a mood and pick a scent to go with it: for the freshest scent to accompany your fresh new look, we recommend a citrus-based product. Choose from plug-in or battery-operated diffusers, oils and candles, sprays or room mists and invite that mood into your home.
