How to prepare your home for sale

Buyers decide from the first photographs whether to book a viewing, and within the first five minutes whether to come back. A week of preparation often makes the difference between selling in two months and selling in six.

Light comes first

Open the curtains, clean the windows and replace blown bulbs with ones in the same warm white colour. A bright room looks larger and newer than it is.

Small repairs that matter

A dripping tap, a sticking door handle, blackened bathroom sealant and a loose socket say, “This house has hidden problems.” They can be fixed in a day at little cost. Major renovations, on the other hand, rarely pay for themselves.

Fewer belongings

Remove about a third of the things in the house: clothes from wardrobes, fridge magnets, family photographs and unused toys. Buyers need to imagine their own life there, rather than see yours.

Smells and fresh air

Air the home thoroughly before every viewing. Avoid cooking with strong smells that day and using intense room fragrances: they seem to be hiding something.

The entrance and exterior

First impressions begin at the door: the stairwell, letterbox, doormat and gate. For houses, mow the lawn and clear the path.

Paperwork prepared in advance

A serious buyer asks about the documents at the first viewing. If you already have the land register extract, energy performance certificate and floor plan, you show that the sale can move quickly. The full list is in our guide to the paperwork.

At viewings

Let the agent present the home and go for a walk if you can. Buyers speak more freely when the owner is not there, and their questions tell us what needs to be negotiated.

For an opinion on your home, we offer a free valuation and tell you what is worth doing before the photographs.