Give your home a healthcheck (DIY in general)

Member Name: grannywoo

Product:	DIY in general
Date:	07/03/02 (66 review reads)
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Firstly before I get into the throws of writing, I apologise if this isn't strictly in the right section.

Having recently put our house (our lovely home) up for sale, we had the unpleasant experience of looking at other peoples hell holes.

How people can live in the kind of houses we have had the misfortune to visit is beyond me, but how they think they can obtain top market prices is beyond belief.

My home is my pride and joy, it is immaculately presented, my husband (an ex painter and decorator) has a great idea for detail, colour and design. We are both very houseproud and have bought our children up to respect things.

Some people either don't care or can't be bothered. How long does it take to run a hoover around if you are expecting potential buyers.

These are some of things we have come across, which with a little time and effort (and in some cases a bit of money) could have made all the difference.

The first thing you see when you arrive at a property is the front of the house, first impressions count don't they. Well obviously some people don't think they are important. At one property we were confronted with guttering hanging off the wall, rotting paintwork and what can only be described as a wilderness in the front garden.

One stepping insidea house, you expect to feel something, welcome would be nice and safe would be even better. Think again, we have experienced germs, filth and grime and numerous houses that looked like jumble sale rooms.

Smoke filled rooms, yellowing paintwork, grey net curtains, tide marks around the sink, toilet and bath, to name just a few.

All of the above have been experienced in many properties, at one stage we got to thinking we would be better to stay where we are.

How much does it cost to wash down paintwork, clean your kitchen and bathroom, wash your net curtains and generally make your house welcoming. A vase o
f flowers and a bit of aromatherapy oil in a burner can get ride of unpleasant odours like smoke and pets.

I know that when you buy a house, you do exactly that, you don't buy all the filth, bad taste furniture, etc. But how can you feel enticed to buy something that is so uncared for.

So if you intend to sell (or attempt to sell) your house in the near future invest in a little time and effort and maybe a spot of paint,etc.

After all your house is for life not just for christmas and is most likely to be the biggest single investment you will ever make.

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