Selling a property can often be a challenge. Getting your home ready to sell takes time and requires attention to some of the finer details. Here are a few recommendations to help you prepare for a sale and make sure you compete well against other sellers in the market.
When you’re trying to sell your house, it isn’t the time to be starting major renovation work but it is time to do all of those little maintenance jobs you’ve been meaning to get around to. A lick of paint to freshen things up, replacing the discoloured sealant in the bathroom or fixing that loose tile in the fireplace are just some of the small jobs that can go a long way to presenting your house in a positive light. However, don’t spend too much money. It is very difficult to cater for the tastes of all potential buyers and people do like to put their own stamp on a new property, so don’t go overboard and redecorate the whole house (unless it’s in a real state of disrepair!). Refresh the décor, don’t remodel!
Take viewings seriously. Keep things tidied away and clean to help create a sense of space. You don’t want potential buyers to walk away from a viewing feeling that the house lacks storage and make it difficult to picture themselves living there because of the build-up of possessions you’ve been hoarding way over the years.
Viewers want to imagine what it’s like to live in the house as they walk around. By clearly defining each living space you enable them to do this more easily. Setting the dinner table, arranging a couple of magazines on the coffee table and straightening towels in the bathroom make rooms more attractive to buyers. We have known clients to bake on the morning before a viewing so the smell of freshly baked bread fills the house. A little extreme perhaps! It’s also important to de-personalise each space if possible. If you use a utility room to store your bike or one of the bedrooms is full of exercise equipment, make sure you return the rooms to their original purpose and allow viewers to see the room’s potential.
A garden or outdoor space is a huge selling point for many buyers. Make the most of what you have by putting a few plants in the flowerbeds, remove any weeds or fallen leaves and return any gravel or wood chippings to their rightful place. It’s also especially important to make sure the front of your house looks welcoming. People can make their minds up about a property very quickly as they approach and a front door with chipped paint and a wonky knocker or overflowing dustbins can certainly put people off.
Often your estate agent will host viewings for you and it can be a good idea to not be around when they take place. This will help you resist the urge to walk your potential buyers around the house, crowd them and overload them with information. If you are at home during viewing times remember, people like to have their own space, private conversations and make their own mind up about whether the property is right for them.
When you buy a second-hand car you get peace of mind when there is a full service history and receipts for work carried out over the years. It’s the same when buying a house. Pull together all documents that a buyer would find useful, like the Gas Register certificate for the new combi boiler, the guarantee for last year’s roof repairs or previous council tax bills. When selling a house, you’ll also need to provide the agent or solicitor with proof of identity for all owners along with utility bills etc. If you have this all ready, you won’t hold the process up if a buyer comes along.
The highest offer isn’t always the best offer when selling your house. Your agent will be able to advise you on the potential buyers and make sure the deal is right for you. You should consider how the purchase is being financed; is it a cash purchase or is a mortgage required? Ask about timescales of the deal and any other factors you should be considering.
