Credit Crunch

Only a few entrepreneurs are managing to maximise their business potential during this hard hitting credit crunch.

Exeter-based Jackie Sears initially discovered how small home improvements really work when it comes to selling, after she and her (now) husband Pete put his property up for sale in 1992.

"It had been on the market for a little while, so we did a few DIY jobs, like paint the outside and it sold in 1993 after two viewings."

Initially embarking on a career in interior design, after an HND in Interiors and a degree in Three Dimensional Design, Jackie now helps people become objective about selling their properties.

Kerb appeal is a major selling point.

"Doing property presentation or home staging, didn't really occur to me initially but now sellers need to see their house as a business transaction.

"I always knew I'd be involved in interior design in some way", she said.

"I wasn't interested in dolls, it was furniture shops I wanted my mother to take me to and I was forever getting her to buy me paints to repaint my walls."

She understands that it's difficult to be objective when you've lived in a place for a few years and there is an emotional attachment.

Her advice though for shifting your prize possession is to remember the three C's - clutter, colour and cleaning and she asks people:

"Are you selling your space or your stuff?

"The best way to edit out any personal possessions is to clear the space completely, organise things by colour and a bit of elbow grease goes a long way!"

The credit crunch is certainly affecting the housing market with plenty of properties for sale but not so many selling.

"Most people on the market now are there because they have to sell, especially if prices are dropping, its a race against time."

A dream home with space and views

Kerb appeal and presentation, Jackie says are the keys, but when she and her husband bought their own home in Exeter it was the view from the back garden they fell in love with.

"It wasn't the pink flocked wallpaper or the pink carpet and curtains - what sold us the place was the volume of space and the stunning view."

Jackie judges her success on her sales, usually after six to eight weeks, but she's had a record purchase after four days.

"Unfortunately people tend to call me in when they've been stuck on the market for as long as a year."

She said the credit crunch has proved one thing: "If people don't move they're going to be in worse trouble than they are already and so I'm helping them to move on from a bad situation."

You can get more advise on how to sell your home from a link at the top of this page.