The Hallway Sets the Tone for the Whole Viewing

The first room a buyer enters can have a surprisingly strong effect on the rest of the viewing.

If the hallway feels dark, crowded or difficult to move through, the property starts on the back foot.

I once marketed a home where the hallway was actually a good size, but two bicycles,

a freestanding cupboard and a large number of coats made it feel much narrower than it really was.

Buyers simply could not appreciate the space.

The property eventually sold, but I always felt that clearing that entrance earlier would have improved those first impressions.

If you live in a flat, this can be particularly important because there may be less you can control about the exterior of the building.

That makes the entrance to your own apartment the moment when you really take over the presentation.

Clear unnecessary furniture.

Move bicycles somewhere else if possible.

Keep coats and shoes under control and think about the lighting.

You want somebody walking through the door to feel that the property is spacious, orderly and welcoming.

The buyer is forming an opinion from the moment they arrive.

A good entrance makes them interested in what comes next.

A poor one means you are trying to recover from a bad first impression for the rest of the viewing.