1) Choose an Estate Agent. Selling a home requires knowledge of the local market, experience in negotiations and the know-how that Pinpoint can bring. With a carefully staged home and by following our guidance below, you should be able to achieve a great sale price at any time of the year.  Contact Pinpoint today to arrange a free house valuation Belfast and beyond, with no obligation.

2) First impressions count.  Before a buyer steps into a house, they will have already formed an impression. A well-kept garden, pathway and fence are immediately appealing. If you can, add pots of seasonal colour to brighten up a winter garden. 'Pruning, tidying, trimming and landscaping over winter will put your outdoor space in the best possible shape come spring when a beautiful looking garden can create an excellent first impression, and, if your home is very open to the road, plant a hedge or put up a fence to give a greater feeling of privacy

3) Finish odd jobs, but don't go over the top!    Buyers will always over-estimate the cost of repairs so fix the kitchen drawer, replace the broken front light and oil the front gate. A big renovation such as a kitchen or bathroom will improve saleability, but rarely does it give you a complete return on your investment. Replace work-surfaces and doors rather than whole fitted kitchens and bathrooms.

4) De-personalise your rooms.   Remove personal items, such as family photographs and children's drawings, which may distract potential buyers. Buyers should be looking at the property not the owner's possessions.  Pre-pack!  You are going to pack the stuff up eventually. Do it now and it will make you money!  If you need the items, put them into drawers or closet. They do nothing to enhance your photos.

5) Paint = Money in a can! A fresh coat of paint, whether interior or exterior, can be a game changer. If it’s been awhile and you need to paint everything, take this opportunity to update your color palette. A fresh coat of the RIGHT color can make your home look YEARS younger!  Make sure your decorating takes account of what estate agency insiders call The Half Minute Rule.  If an applicant doesn't like the house in the first 30 seconds, it's more than likely they won't buy.

6) Organise rooms.  A property will be more appealing if rooms have a specific purpose and this allows buyers to see the full potential of the property. Consider rearranging your furniture to focus on the strengths of the house and not your lifestyle. A sofa and two chairs all lined up on one side of the room may be the best for watching TV, but it may not look so great in a photo. Don't let furniture arrangement sink the sale of your house!

7) Lighting! Open those curtains, add lamps to dark areas and use the brightest bulbs possible! While a professional photographer can compensate for lack of light, a dark room is not high on a buyer’s priority list when they tour your house. Light=money!

8) Add a room.  Consider adding a conservatory etc. For some buyers the lack of a downstairs loo can be a deal-breaker, but it's astonishing how few square feet are required to install such a huge selling point

9) Keep an eye on your spending.   As ever, calculate whether your expenditure will be recovered by an increase in value.  Find out the maximum potential value of your property. It's pointless spending £20,000 on improving a property for sale if it will only add £10,000 to the sale price.

10) Contact Pinpoint today to arrange a free no obligation appraisal and valuation of your home.