Kenyans are very cautious when they are buying property.They are some factors you need to consider in the current era of real estate in kenya

1. Leave the compound

Kenyans only care about the house they are coming to see. There is no sense in fixing up the compound.

Wrong … See your compound as an extension of the house and give it a thorough once-over. Clean barbeque, cut shrubs, remove weeds, and keep lawn mowed or concrete washed down. Your compound sets the expectations of the buyers before they’ve even stepped in your house. Also, consider installing attractive outdoor lighting. It goes a long way toward creating a dramatic mood.

2. What’s that smell

Do not clean the litter box. After all, you cleaned it yesterday, right It does not smell that bad.

Wrong again… give your Kenyan home the sniff test. Nothing is more off-putting to a prospective buyer than a house that smells stale ... or worse. Often, you become so inured to the smell of your own home that you do not notice scents that might offend visitors. Empty the garbage, load dirty clothes into the washing machine, give wood furniture a quick polish, and for goodness sake, clean the litter box or remove dog mess.

3. Show them how well your doing

Display all your hard earned possessions.

Definitely not… tone it down. Make your house a place that anyone could imagine living in. This means removing most evidence of your personal taste. Neutral walls, pale furniture, soft lighting and inoffensive art all go a long way toward creating a crowd-pleasing interior. Store your collections in a safe place for the duration of the selling process. Remember, you want prospective buyers to look at the space, not get distracted by your stuffed game collection.

4. Distracting guard dog

Let your dog meet prospective buyers. He will not bother anyone.

Wrong still… he may not be so well-behaved when you are not there. A barking dog is extremely distracting when prospects are trying to get a detailed look at your house. Even though he might be contained, his voice will carry. Take him with you if you can, or drop him off at a pet-friendly neighbours house.

5. Tribal and team loyalties

Make sure buyers know which tribe or team you cheer for.

Old school… Kenya is a modern forward looking country and yes all Kenyans are very proud of roots and home loyalties, but try not to put of any group of prospective buyers. Just remember that an Arsenal football shirt on the wall will probably put off most Man United or Chelsea fans.

6. Dirty dishes
Do not worry about the dishes in the sink. People understand difficulties with house girls.

Or… they will think you are unable to manage your home help, let alone upkeep the house. They will think you probably have not taken very good care of the house. Always keep the kitchen pristine. The same goes for the bathroom. Dry the inside of the sink and the surrounding counter completely before you leave the house.

7. Leave as is

Let the buyers fix the hole in the wall and the broken light fixture.

Huge Mistake… be prepared to lose a sale over the poor condition of your house. Everything in your home must be in good working order before you put it on the market. This process can take a couple of months, but you need to fix all broken fixtures, change all burned out light bulbs, repair any flaws in the walls and refresh any paint that needs it.

8. Show personal belongings

Leave out your personal pictures, magazines, books and ornaments.

Please understand… You want buyers to immediately begin imagining themselves living in your house, and not you. Even worse, they might find your taste in books laughable or your choice of ornaments cheap or tacky and decide they could not possibly live in your house. So clear every surface, every side table, every coffee table, the sideboard, the desk and the dining room table. You can put one item in each room, and it should be a plant or a flower arrangement.

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