When it comes to moving house, being able to sell up and move quickly is ideal, but how do you give your home a helping hand to make sure you sell quickly and for the best price? There are a few things that go into making sure your house isn’t on the market for too long. A good estate agent will make a huge difference, but if you really want to minimise the time your house is on the market there are a few extra bits you can do too.
We’ve been helping people sell their homes since 1998, so we truly know the housing market. That’s why we’ve put together our top tips on how to prepare your home to sell and make sure you’re not waiting around for that buyer to come along.
Potential buyers want to be able to picture themselves in the house they are viewing. Having clear, tidy rooms makes this a lot easier. A big reason people look to move house is that they’ve outgrown their current home. If potential buyers are looking for more space but view a home that appears cluttered or messy, it’ll make the space look small and could completely put them off.
If you’re running out of space try not to show it. You don’t need to completely clear out your house, just declutter! Instead of attacking the whole house at once aim to declutter two rooms a week and it won’t seem like such a chore. The added bonus is once you have agreed on a sale you will have already started the packing and sorting, so when it comes to the big move it will be much less overwhelming for you and your family.
A clutter-free home enhances the space and makes it feel more spacious. The same goes for the garden too, but more on that later!
Putting your house on the market gives you an excuse to really give your home a deep clean. Think about how good the house looks and feels afterwards! Presenting potential buyers with a clean and tidy house gives a much better impression and shows the property has been well cared for.
Scrub away the limescale and make sure to get rid of any signs of condensation, these can be off-putting to potential buyers. If you’re struggling for time to do this yourself due to other commitments, consider hiring a cleaner to come in. Then follow up with regular cleaning ready for viewing so your house sparkles.
Give your home a little TLC. Those small repairs you’ve been putting off? Now’s the time to get them sorted! We all have those little imperfections in our home, but don’t let those little niggles put off potential buyers. It could be as simple as filling in old screw holes in the walls, fixing that leaky tap, or a door that doesn’t close. Getting these repairs done now could make all the difference and won’t cost the earth.
The same goes for decorating. Redecorating your whole house may not be possible, however refreshing your walls can give your house vibrancy. Take a close look at your walls; is the wallpaper peeling, is there lots of marks, are the colours too dark or bold? Potential buyers should allow for a bit of wear and tear, but it makes an inviting impression if everything has a fresh and clean look. A lick of paint can go a long way, giving the illusion of a bigger area, providing you keep the colour palette soft. Aim for neutrals – almond, taupe and light greys work well, allowing a blank canvas to future homeowners. If you’re on a tight budget, stick to DIY and prioritise the most important rooms, like the kitchen, the heart of the home.
Lighting is incredibly important when it comes to house viewings. It can make rooms look more spacious, and there’s plenty of tips and tricks you can use to maximise your lighting even in darker rooms. These tips aren’t just great for viewings but are also excellent when it comes to marketing photos too. Although a good estate agent should provide photography in their sales package and should know all these tips!
To help light up your home make sure you:
Check all bulbs are working
Open all curtains and blinds
Give your windows a good clean
Turn on all your ceiling lights and lamps
Add lamps in darker corners and add mirrors to darker hallways
Declutter your window sills of anything that might be blocking light coming into the room
Even potential buyers who don’t see a garden as a big selling point want to see a tidy and well-maintained garden. It impacts the first impression of your home massively, especially when it comes to the front garden. Your garden doesn’t need to look like something straight out of the Chelsea Flower Show but making sure it looks cared for really does help.
What you do with your garden will depend on the time of year. Cut the grass, deadhead flowers, trim back any shrubs that have got a bit too carried away, clear away dead leaves and clean up your patio furniture.
Gardens can be a huge selling point, so showcasing what you have is a must! Even if you only have a small garden there’s plenty you can do, so get creative and don’t overlook one of the biggest selling points of your home.
When you have a viewing booked, think about how you can make the viewing experience as special as possible. We don’t mean laying out the red carpet, but thinking about first impressions and the presentation of your home is vital to an excellent viewing (and can make all the difference!).
Avoid cleaning on the day to make sure your house doesn’t smell of harsh chemicals. The same goes for decorating. If you do decide to decorate and spruce up your home before a viewing, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to allow the smell of paint to air out. You don’t want potential buyers wondering what you’re trying to cover up – especially when you’ve got nothing to hide.
Give a warm welcome, literally! If your house is feeling a little chilly, pop the heating on to give it a gentle warmth, you want people to feel at home as soon as they step inside your house. Have a fresh pot of coffee on the side, maybe bake some bread or cookies to fill your home with a beautiful aroma. If you have a fire in your home and it does feel chilly the day of your viewing, put it on, it’ll give off a wonderfully homely feel!
A big part of making sure your home sells quickly is making sure you have a good estate agent on your side, so choosing the right estate agent is a big step in your house selling journey. Getting your house prepped for sale is important too! Here at Coleman Estates, we know how to match people with their perfect homes. As Telford’s best-rated estate agent, we would be happy to guide you through the sale process and make sure your home sells quickly, for the best price.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you get in touch or arrange your free valuation today.
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