How To Prepare Your House For Sale

Preparing your house for sale can be a tricky task

Selling a house can be a very time consuming and stressful process. Depending on where you currently live, the general time a house will be on the market in the UK will be between 2-3 months. However, there are always some cases that are outside of the norm and sell within the first week, while some take 6 months or even a year to sell.

Luckily for those wanting to sell their house in a short amount of time, there are several small things you can do to increase your property’s chances of being snapped up quickly by a lucky buyer. This piece is going to outline 10 ways to help your property sell fast.

First impressions

Just like meeting someone new, first impressions are incredibly important. From the moment the potential buyer steps out of the car, to when the front door opens, or the door to the downstairs toilet, you want your property to give the best first impressions it possibly can. Here are some simple ways you can improve your property’s first impression:

1. Improve your ‘curb appeal’

This is one of the most important factors in selling a house. When the buyer turns up and looks at the outside of your property, you want to impress and entice them in. This is all about making sure the exterior of your property looks as good as it can. If the exterior of your property is scruffy; for example, the colour of the house has faded or bleached, the grass is too long or the hedge is overgrown, the window edges are dirty or falling apart, this can immediately put a potential buyer off. The exterior of your property is the first important step.

Use your friends, family, neighbours to take an outside perspective of your property and see what they think needs doing.

2. It’s time to stop ignoring the small jobs

 Hopefully, you now have the buyer inside your property. The next step is to make sure all the small jobs you have been putting off are now done. This is the time to fix the lock on the toilet door which may be broken, or the cracked skirting board, or the broken doorbell. Everything counts! A potential buyer is going to be looking at every fine detail when walking around your property, you want to make sure everything is perfect. So, grab your dusty toolbox from the garage, and start fixing. This may seem a waste of time, but the small details go a long way.

3. Clean, tidy and de-clutter

So, you have improved your ‘Kerb appeal’, it is now time to make sure the inside of your property is tidy and looking the best it can. A very simple way of achieving this is to tidy, clean and de-clutter your house, you want to show the buyer you care for the property and appreciate living here.

No doubt this is one of the more time-consuming things you need to do, but it will help. Pay attention to every room, and make sure they look as sharp as possible. This may mean you might have to place items into household storage, by doing this you are already preparing for when it is time to move.

4. Decorate

Give your house a fresh lick of paint. A fresh coat of paint will brighten up your home.

5. Make the most of your garden

A smart looking and tidy garden can increase the chances of selling your property quickly. A nicely organised outdoor space is an extremely important factor buyers are looking for. If substantial work must be done to the garden this may put a buyer off as it is a potential extra cost. Make their lives easier and do the work before you sell. To make the most of your garden and improve how it looks doesn’t require a landscaping genius, a few simple measures such as cutting the bushes back, cleaning the patio, and caring for the lawn, will go a long way.

Marketing and selling your house

Now your property looks amazing, it is now time to consider how you are going to market and ultimately sell your property. From choosing the right photos to making sure you have the best agent possible, will shorten the time your property spends on the market.

1. House price

Buying a house is a significant financial investment. The price of your property is an extremely important factor to consider, as it can turn potential buyers away before even taking a step inside. Although you want to get the most amount of money possible, a well-considered reasonable price can shorten the time your property spends on the market.

2. Pick the right estate agent for you

Just like any other business, there are good estate agents and bad estate agents. When you are considering putting your house up for sale it is important to research estate agents to determine which one is best for you, and the agent who will get you the best deal possible. Simply choosing the best estate agent for you can dramatically reduce the amount of time your property spends on the market. Although better estate agents may have a higher fee, paying a higher fee will be worth the investment in the future.

3. Choose the right photos

You want to show off all the hard work you have done in making the property look amazing. This is the time to show off your property and make it stand out. Choosing the best possible photos will attract more potential buyers.