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Before you consent to having those marketing shots taken, spare a moment to look at your property. And we mean really look at it.
Look at it from the road or from the pavement outside so that you take in everything about the façade. Then view the property from the back. Does everything look right? Are there any structural flaws? Do the windows need a clean? Does the front door need repainting? Does the back garden require a little TLC?
It’s often a wise move to enlist a friend to also look at the property, as they will have an objective eye. The more scrutinising you are at this stage, the better.
There are so many things you can do – and for minimum financial outlay – to improve the exterior and/or interior of a property ahead of viewings. It’s all about maximising a property’s potential. If you follow our advice, you’ll have fewer problems when the viewings get under way.
Below are 7 handy tips for the house seller to bear in mind when preparing a property for sale:
1) Think ‘kerb appeal’
Yes, this term is terrible, and somewhat overused, but nonetheless it sums up what we mean. Remember you only get one chance to make a first impression. When you’re standing outside your property, looking at it for any potential flaws, try to think as objectively as possible. Don’t think: ‘well, the window frames could do with a lick of paint but they don’t really bother me’. They might bother a potential buyer. Not in the way that a large structural crack in a wall might bother a potential buyer, but the window frames should still be repainted.
If there’s a driveway or a front garden, make sure these are presentable. The external features of the property should appear well-maintained. This is important not only for viewings, but also for the exterior photographs of the property which will be used to market it.
2) Declutter to free up space
Decluttering is something you can easily do. It won’t cost you anything yet will make your property appear larger inside. That stack of magazines in the corner of the living room, either throw them or put them in a place of storage. The less there is cluttering up the floor, the better. Some ornaments are fine, but it’s always best to clear the window sills and keep them as clutter-free as possible. Likewise, if there’s an outdoor shed or a garden area, try and keep them as clear as possible.
The property shouldn’t look like a show home – it should feel lived in – but not at the expense of the house being cluttered and messy.
3) The kitchen is key
The heart of the home and the main congregation point is the kitchen. If a viewer is torn between two properties, they will most likely put in an offer on the one with the more impressive kitchen. Make sure the kitchen is clean and presentable. If there are any small, cosmetic jobs which could be done to improve the kitchen’s general appearance before viewings, do them. This might be repainting the walls or changing the handles on the cabinets.
4) Repair where required
No property is perfect, be it a broken window latch, a door which sticks, a leaking tap or a broken floor tile. But it’s important to make sure all repairs are completed before viewings commence.
5) Let there be enough light
Most property viewers all want the same thing: a property which allows a lot of natural light inside, and one which feels spacious and ‘airy’. If your property has small windows or is a bit dark in places, either install more spotlights overhead or bring in more lamps to light up darker areas. This can make a great deal of difference, especially when viewings are conducted in the evenings, as lamplight makes a space feel cosy and welcoming.
6) Show buyers around your home
If you happen to be at home at the time of a viewing, and/or are showing the viewer around, always put the lights on in all the rooms (unless it is a very bright and sunny day). You know what your home is like, but the visitor will not, so needs to be given the best impression. Poorly-lit areas and dark corners are not a turn-on. Always start downstairs and show the biggest and best rooms first. Upstairs next, always show the main/biggest bedroom first. Showing the bedrooms in size order will give the viewer a better idea – and memory – of their relative size. Then the outside space/garden. Then invite them back indoors.
7) Allow them to relax a little and feel ‘at home’
If they seem at all interested, offer them a second walk round, and/or invite them to sit down (with you) in your main reception room – people think better sitting down and will be able to visualise themselves living at the property once they have sat and relaxed a little. Most importantly, do not crowd them. Give them time to think and talk to each other, and to ask questions.
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