When your house is on the market it can be a great relief when you find a buyer. But you don’t have to leave selling your house completely down to your estate agent. There are a few small things that you can do to help people fall in love with your home at that first viewing.
Practical Tips to Sell Your Home
Be Prepared
Keeping on top of your housework and home maintenance all year round can save you time and money when it comes to putting your house on the market. Many homeowners finish off DIY projects or spruce up their home ready to put the ‘for sale’ board out but don’t get to enjoy their investment. Maintaining your home all year round will ensure that it is ‘sale ready’ if you suddenly find your dream home or need to put your house on the market.
Know Your Home
If you are showing people around your house yourself, then it pays to be knowledgeable about every aspect of your home. Know what your boundaries are, what council tax band you fall into, where the sun rises, who your neighbours are, what the catchment school is and the local transport links. This may all be information that you know, but if it has been some time since you caught a bus or had children in the local schools then brush up on your knowledge and offer it to viewers.
Make a Good First Impression
First impressions are important. Make sure that viewers first few seconds at the property are positive. Some quick jobs that you can do before expecting viewers include; sweeping your pathway, de-weeding the front garden, cleaning the front door and windows etc. A tidy welcome mat, a shiny letterbox and a nice potted plant can instantly make the property neat and attractive.
Take that first impression further by paying extra attention to your porch or entrance hall as well. Often a high-traffic area of the home, make sure paintwork is touched up and that it is de-cluttered from shoes, bags and coats that usually clog up these areas of a home. A new diffuser, air freshener or candle can help instantly create a pleasant impression.
Get the Most out of your Photos
The photos of your house that will be posted online are vital in building attention and creating those viewing appointments. It is likely that your estate agent will take these for you and ensure that they are taken from the right angles to maximise their impact. Before ‘picture day’ ensure that your home is clean, tidy and clutter free. You might also want to think about lighting and staging your photos to create a lasting impression.
Let Viewers use their Imagination
Before opening your house up for viewers, consider how people will be able to imagine themselves living in your home. This can be difficult to do if your home is very personalised with individual décor, photographs or designed specifically for your hobbies or lifestyle. Consider offsetting your home with white or light, neutral tones so that viewers can put their own stamp on it. If you have a large plate collection or collection of items from your travels, now might be the time to start packing these away or down-scaling them so that viewers are not overwhelmed during their visit.
Appear Low Maintenance
Not many people are looking to take on a property that appears high-maintenance or will take a lot of work to be liveable. So, make sure you have finished any projects, repaired any damage and that the outside of your property isn’t an overgrown jungle! Don’t forget your garden when it comes to selling your property. Even if your viewings are taking place during the winter months or of an evening, ensure that bushes are trimmed back, fences are in good repair and that the grass is cut.
Warm & Inviting
Create a lasting impression and sense of mood within your home. Tweaking the blinds, using lamps and candles can help create an ambient light that gives a cosy, relaxed feel. Think about using scented candles and diffusers to create an attractive smell throughout the home and mask any unpleasant odours such as paint fumes (from your recent touch-ups) or pets. Consider the temperature of the house, make sure it isn’t too warm and stuff or too cold and unwelcoming.
Take Inspiration from Show Houses
If you have ever visited a show room of a new build development, you will have noticed how they dress the houses for sale. Often the dining table will be laid out ready for a dinner party to show how the house is great to entertain in. The kitchen may have a recipe book and some cooking utensils out to inspire and the bedroom could have a book laid on the bed to make it appear relaxing. You could take some inspiration from this way of ‘dressing’ your house making it looked lived in, but presentable.
Avoid Distractions
If you are a pet owner you may want to arrange for your pets to be out of sight for your viewing day. Although you may love your precious pooch or cuddly cat, not everyone is a pet-lover and they could be scared of animals or be allergic to their fur. The presence of an animal can make some people feel that a house is un-clean or chaotic if you have a particularly lively pet. Avoid playing load music or having TVs switched on. You may want to have some quiet background music or a radio on but avoid anything too distracting. If you have young children, you might also want to ensure that they are being looked after or are out for the day of your viewings to avoid additional noise or people in the house that can make it feel crowded. Animals and children are often unpredictable, and this may help your viewings run more smoothly!
Appoint a Reputable Estate Agent
Ensure that your home is being marketed in the best possible way by instructing an estate agent that you can trust and one who has a good track record of selling houses similar to yours. Take a look online at reviews and who other sellers in your area are using. If you would like a recommendation, we can suggest some local agents who we regularly work with.
Choosing a Solicitor to Sell your Home
We understand that selling your home can be an emotional and stressful transaction. That is why it helps to appoint a firm that has the experience, knowledge and reputation to make sure your property sale runs smoothly and completes.
Lamb Brooks Solicitors in Basingstoke help hundreds of homeowners every month to buy, sell and invest in property throughout England and Wales. Our skilled conveyancing Team have a passion for property and build up lasting relationships with their clients, seeing them again for their future house moves.
For a competitive estimate please contact our Property Law Team. You can call our direct Property Line on 01256 844888, email enquiries@lambbrooks.com or speak to our online chat assistant who is available 24/7.
The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.