When organising your open house day, it is crucial to put yourself in the position of a viewer and picture the type of home they are likely to invest their money in.

The first thing your mind’s eye will see is a clean home. This is why top of your list when preparing your house for its open day is cleaning. And we don’t just mean a quick whizz round with a vacuum cleaner. Put some effort into giving every inch of your home a thorough, deep clean. This will turn your house into a buyer-friendly home.

Give your vacuum cleaner a thorough work-out. Use it to clean the floors and suck the cobwebs from the hidden corners. Next, grab a good quality squeegee and clean the hair off the carpets and furniture before taking a universal cleaning product and disinfectant and using them to clean the other surfaces around your house.

The next step to preparing your house for its open day is to pack, move and store your possessions that you are not willing to sell. There are two reasons for this. First, it will avoid any misunderstandings between you and a potential buyer of your house.

If there is a beautiful, comfortable suite of furniture in the living room and the buyer closes the deal, misunderstanding that the furniture goes along with the house, that’ll put you in a very uncomfortable situation. Thus, you’d better avoid such misunderstanding and leave only what you are about to sell in your house.

The other advantage of decluttering your home is it creates the illusion of space.

Buy medium-sized boxes, tape, scissors and sticky notes. Sort out all the items you are about to pack and then place them into the boxes. It’s advisable not to overload them – you’d better use more boxes, rather than risk your health by lifting heavy boxes. Don’t forget to label them – it is absolutely necessary, because it would be easier for you to unpack. Regarding the storage – if you don’t have a place where you can move your items, consider hiring a self-storage unit.

Once your house is cleared and cleaned and there is furniture you are about to sell along with the house, then take some time to rearrange.

Why not decorate everything in feng shui style? There are many people keen on the ‘philosophical system of harmonising everyone’ and it can actually help you sell your house.

And before you throw open your front door on open house day, don’t forget the finishing touches. Order a catering, dress stylishly, put a smile on your face and welcome your guests.

And when the viewers arrive, be yourself and stress upon the things you like about your home. We’re sure this will lead to a successful closure of a deal. Good luck.

Man with van Chelsea can help you with more moving ideas.

 Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Flies are one of the most annoying, unwanted pests found in our homes. Their buzzing is distracting and they’re a constant irritation flying around us and our food. Plus, they also cause a health hazardas certain species carry diseases such as cholera, dysentery and salmonella.

Some species are more common than others, and knowing a little more about different flies can help you to find the right method of prevention.

A pest control company in East London have a guide to help you…

Salmonella
Some species are more common than others, and knowing a little more about different flies can help you to find the right method of prevention.

House Flies
One of the most common species of fly, house flies infests all types of properties and are major carriers of disease.
Adult house flies are approximately 5–8mm in length, and grey with a yellowish abdomen. They’re attracted to all sorts of food – human food, pet food, food waste, and even faeces. They lay eggs in faeces or rotting food, which emerge to become maggots with a pointed head.

Flesh Flies
Flesh flies are larger and can be up to 15mm long. They have a distinctive black and white checked pattern on their bodies, with reddish eyes.
They feed on carrion and dung, where they also lay their eggs. Some species also lay eggs in rotting flesh, hence their name.

Blow Flies
Often referred to as bluebottles due to their distinctive iridescent colours, blow flies are between 6–12mm long and metallic blue-green in colour with bristly bodies.
They’re especially attracted to faeces and dead animals, making them a carrier of nasty diseases. They breed in meat-derived substances, and sometimes cheese.

Cluster Flies
Cluster flies are a similar size to blow flies, but dark brown with golden hairs on their body.
They hibernate in warm, dark places over the winter, such as attics and wall voids. They can be a nuisance in spring when they come out of hibernation, ending up in sunny windows and conservatories as they find their way back outside.
While they are a nuisance, they pose no health risk to humans and breed in soil.

Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are only 3mm in length, and a mottled yellow-brown in colour with reddish eyes.
True to their name, they can be found around fruit, making them a pest in the home and in pub beer gardens where they’re attracted to the beer. They like to breed in rotting fruit.

Phorid Flies
These tiny flies are only 3mm in length, with a humped back. They multiply in huge numbers, and their favourite breeding grounds are fruit, dirty garbage and rotten vegetables.

Moth and Drain Flies
From the family of filter flies, moth and drain flies are only 2mm in length with a grey-tan coloured body.
Often associated with sewage beds, these flies feed on the gelatinous material found in sink drains, traps and sewers, as well as decomposing food.

Midges
Midges and mosquitoes are an annoying nuisance in the summer months, especially around water supplies. They lay their eggs in stagnant water, and quickly develop into adults.
They love to bite humans, causing nasty, itching little bumps.
If you have a problem with flies in your home, call a professional pest control expert who will help to identify and eradicate your pest.
Related articles