Thinking of selling your home? Top tips to get your home ready for the market

Selling your home can be a busy time. It takes planning to keep on top of things. With this in mind we’ve given some thought to our years of experience of selling homes in Richmond and the surrounding areas. We’ve come up with our top ten tips to help you get ready to sell your home.

First impressions count!

Start with your front door. According to Rightmove, when buyers arrive at your home the last thing they are expecting to see are things to fix. Your front door presents an initial first impression so make sure it looks the part. It may just require a simple clean and the door furniture a quick polish. If things are a little worn, replacing broken door knockers, old mats or post boxes may be an easy way to spruce things up. And if you have a doorbell, make sure it works.

A warm welcome is important

Make sure viewers feel at home. At Parkgate, when we do viewings on behalf of homeowners, we make sure we’ve thought through everything to do with your property. We’re able to answer buyers’ questions easily and provide information about the local area. If you are home when the Parkgate team arrive with buyers you need to give some thought to how you will answer questions relating to things as diverse as the local schools or your neighbours.

Being prepared is always the best option, so like us you need to do your homework. But rest assured that we will guide the process to ensure there is a successful viewing.

A clean bathroom is a must

Ensure your bathroom (or bathrooms) is clean and hygienic with no nasty smells. Viewers are expecting to imagine themselves using this room, so make sure there are no nasty surprises waiting to cause alarm.

Buyers think the bathroom is an expensive room to upgrade or replace so ensure showers and baths are free from mould or mildew and reduce clutter to an absolute minimum. This is one room that needs to gleam.

Do all those little repairs

Don’t let viewers find things that will reduce the price of your home. So called ‘red flags’ are often a big turn off especially if the repair or work looks complicated and expensive. Making sure all those small jobs are done will help potential buyers make positive decisions about your home.

Gardens and outdoor space

Gardens have become a new room, a space to be prized and used. And even more so since the Pandemic began. Being able to enjoy your garden or balcony has become one of the important things on any buyer’s wish list.

We’d suggest making sure you remove or tidy any clutter. Adopting the same process as a room in your home will ensure this valuable asset is shown off to best advantage. Mow the lawn, jet wash the mouldy patio or paths and if you can, have some seats and a table available to demonstrate this is a perfect place for a glass of wine or beer at the end of a long day.

 

Further reading: How Home Staging Can Help to Sell Your Home Faster

 

What to do with your pets?

Not a question that everyone has to consider, but if you have pets you need to think about their impact on your home and keep in mind that not every buyer is likely to like pets. Even yours!

During viewings we’d suggest trying to keep pets to one room, although this is not always possible and try to eliminate pet odours. Remember we become accustomed to our pets and are not always aware of the smells and buyers might not love your pet as much as you do!

Declutter each room

We all have to live our lives and with that comes a degree of clutter. When you put your home on the market, we have to think about how potential buyers will see each space in our homes. Remembering that most people can’t see past your possessions will help you understand why people find it hard to visualise themselves living in your home.

By decluttering each room, you will create space and make each room feel more welcoming which will help to increase the likelihood of an offer.

Kitchens really are the heart of the home!

Kitchens are a big part of the home buying process and the most expensive to replace or update. Making sure your kitchen is clean and inviting is the first simple step to take. Some fresh flowers or plants are a simple and effective way to create a fresh feel in the space.

Fixing any of those broken or loose cabinet doors or handles will help to eliminate buyer concerns. However, if your kitchen needs more attention, the experts at Houzz have some additional tips to get your kitchen ready to sell your home.

Has your home got kerb appeal?

Even before your potential buyers get to your front door, think about your homes ‘kerb appeal.’ Your buyers will. The journey from the street to your door should be free from clutter, rubbish and things that might cause concern.

Tidy rubbish bins in one place, fix the gate if you have one and some new pretty plants will all help to freshen things up and help to create that positive first impression buyers will love.

Ensure your home smells good too

We are not advocating turning your home in to a bakery or coffee shop but according to a poll by Ideal Home there are smells that can get your home sold. From the smell of fresh baking and vanilla for most of us to the smell of clean linen for millennials, smells have been proven to have an impact on our decision-making process.

And finally!

Our top ten tips to sell your home will create some work for you but we think they will help to focus your attention on all the things that buyers might find off putting. The Parkgate Estates team have a wealth of experience and can help with advice and support to ensure your home is shown to its best advantage.

Thanks for reading.

Get on the market with Parkgate

For more information about selling your property in Richmond, Twickenham, Sheen, Mortlake and Putney, please get in touch with our multi award-winning team at Parkgate Estates on 0208 940 2991.

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