Top Tips to Help Sell your Property Quickly

Make a good first impression

Often a house is sold before the potential buyer gets inside. That’s because one look at the outside of a property may be enough to convince the buyer that it’s their dream house. As a result, it’s vital that you clean up around the outside of your home, and fix any imperfections. A small spot of peeling paint may not seem like a big deal, but it could be enough to put a potential buyer off.

Remove personal clutter

When prospective buyers view your property, they want to be able to imagine how they could make it into their home. It can be difficult to do this if the house is cluttered with someone else’s belongings. Although you shouldn’t leave the house looking empty or stripped of comfort, it’s a good idea to clear out personal clutter and memorabilia. An excellent option is to keep all of your extra belongings and personal items in a self-storage unit for the duration of the selling process.

Scrub the kitchen and bathrooms until they shine

Sparkling clean countertops, fittings and floors are essential when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. These are the main “utility” areas of the home, so it’s especially important to clear them of clutter and put a bit of extra effort into cleaning them. Prospective buyers may not even realise how much this affects their impressions of your home but it can make or break a deal.

Emphasise the property’s best features

Work out what the best features of your house are and then determine how you can make the most of these. What makes the house different or special? For example, does it have a fireplace, a sunroom or a pool? It’s worth decorating these areas well and in a way that makes the features stand out. However, you need to be subtle about this – focusing too much on specific areas and ignoring others could backfire.

Let there be light

Research shows that the second most important factor that potential buyers look for in homes, after their location, is how light they are. If heavy curtains or overhanging trees are making a room darker than necessary, take steps to let more light in. Also, simple steps like fitting brighter light bulbs in lamps will help give potential buyers the impression of a happy, bright home. There’s nothing more likely to put off buyers than dark and dingy rooms, so don't be afraid to open up and let the light shine in.

Don't hang around

It’s generally best to leave the open house to your estate agent. Let potential buyers imagine themselves living in the house and making it their home, rather than hanging around and interfering with the mental pictures they’re trying to paint. Although prospective buyers know that any house has history, they don't need to know the details of who was living there before them. It also wouldn't hurt to allow your estate agent constant access to the property. Not every buyer wants to wait until open days, so if you’re hoping to sell soon, give them the opportunity to view the house throughout the week.