Top tips to help you sell
Don’t forget the front of the property.
Lee Venables, Co Owner at Jukes Estate Agents, says: “I firmly believe that a viewer will make their minds up about whether the property is potentially the “one” within the first 20 to 30 seconds of the viewing.
With that in mind..
Firstly, the front driveway.
Secondly, the condition of the front garden.
Thirdly, the external paintwork and condition of the front door.
These are far more important than many people realise. In some instances, you might have lost your prospective buyer before they are even inside the property.”
Geoff Flewers, also Co Owner at Jukes Estate Harlow agrees, adding: “First impressions really do count. Some healthy spring plants, a clean-up of your front lawn, and clean drive are important. the front exterior will go a long way to helping viewers visualise your property as their dream home.”
Don’t think of it as a sales transaction.
Lee Venables continues: “It might sound obvious, but people are looking for a home, not a business. Therefore, make sure it doesn’t just feel like a transaction. Having the heating on from the entrance hall and throughout the house for example can help. Potential buyers can then imagine living in a new home they can settle down in. There’s nothing worse than opening the door to a cold home.”
Don’t cut corners on decluttering.
Geoff Flewers says: “Invest in some temporary storage and make sure the home is clean and tidy for viewings. You want potential buyers to focus on the home and space, not your mess.
“Also, make sure to decorate the home in line with the season. This will help potential buyers to visualise themselves living there. Carrying out viewings in the spring or summer? Buyers are going to pay extra attention to any outdoor space you have, so make sure the garden is presentable.”
Top tips to help you sell
Lee adds: “People want to see the bones of the property. Make sure everything is hidden away when the photographer comes. Not only will viewers see your home as close to a blank canvas as possible, but it will also make the space look bigger.”
Don’t have pets roaming around.
Jukes Estate Agents Harlow say: “Unfortunately, it’s a big no to pets and we recommend to sellers to keep them out of the way for viewings. Your potential buyer may not be a fan and could be put off by the thought of animal hair around the house.
“Even if they love your pet, the potential buyer will end up playing with them and not focusing on your house! We even had one viewer ask us, “Is that the house with the black Labrador?”
Don’t overhaul the home, but do fix issues.
Top tips to help you sell
Lee says: “If there’s something simple that could do with fixing or updating, I’ll often ask the seller to do this before we take the photos and host viewings. It might be a minor issue – but potential buyers can get transfixed on a particular detail, and it can sabotage a sale. Don’t risk potentially losing thousands off the asking price, because you didn’t do a hundred pounds worth of repairs.”
Geoff adds: “By all means, if something needs replacing, do that. But please don’t spend loads of money on expensive new kitchens or bathroom fittings just before selling. The purchaser may end up changing them anyway, and it may not add much to the final price.”
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert concludes https://www.rightmove.co.uk/): “The best time to get moving is the time that’s right for you – we can’t always plan or predict when a life move is needed. However, for those who can be a bit more flexible about when they decide to sell, the data shows typically the start of the year has been particularly strong.
“It’s also when we’ve historically seen the most buyers sending enquiries to agents, so it’s a great time for those looking to sell to make sure they are listed, their marketing is strong and they’re pricing attractively enough against other sellers.”