Posted: Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Preparing Your Home to Sell: What Not to Do

 

Selling your home can be surprisingly time-consuming and emotionally challenging. It is the single most valuable and personal asset you can put on the market, so it is important to take your time and make sure everything is done the right way. To help you avoid making any mistakes when preparing your home for a sale, here are some key things to consider...

Deep cleaning is a must

A thorough deep clean is absolutely necessary to attract buyers and you should target all the spots you might miss during your everyday clean-ups. Getting your home looking as fresh as possible will tell buyers that it has been looked after and that they won’t have to worry about undergoing any of their own large cleaning tasks upon move-in day. 

Don’t let the house appear too ‘lived in’

Washing hanging up outside, dishes left on the rack, and blankets on the sofas are all subconscious signs that your home suits an average lifestyle when what you’re really trying to sell is a lifestyle which exceeds the buyer’s current one. Try to clear away items that aren’t in their right place, as this will leave more to the buyer’s imagination about what living in your home is like.   

Don’t over personalise

It’s nothing personal, but items that you love in your home could be a distraction to others. Presenting the space as neutrally as possible will allow the buyers to envision themselves living in your home, rather than feeling like they are visiting someone’s property. This doesn’t mean you should clear everything away; picture how you would wish a fully furnished property to be presented to you, and go from there. 

Don’t box everything up before taking photographs  

Unless it’s a brand-new home, most buyers will need to see some furniture arrangements to visualise living in the home. Furniture can give a room a purpose and plays to its strengths while also distracting from any weaknesses. Make sure your best furniture is on display and is looking at its best – this means fluffing and arranging pillows, polishing and dusting shelves, and setting up the dining table with finishing touches. 

Don’t waste valuable space 

Plenty of room is hugely attractive to buyers, which is why you should give all rooms a purpose and make them appear as though you use them frequently – even if you don’t. 

Don’t block out the light 

One of the worst mistakes you could make when presenting your home for a viewing is closing the blinds and curtains. Natural lighting can be your home’s best friend, as it reflects off of shiny surfaces and creates an illusion of expanded space, while also making the room brighter and airier. The views outside your windows are also important to buyers, so make sure they’re on full display to show every aspect that your home and its location have to offer. 

Don’t skip the agent  

It can be tempting to sell your home alone and skip any agent fees, but there are several risks involved and it’s important to note that there could be consequences when attempting to navigate the property market alone. Without an agent, you could risk encountering fraud or receiving offers much lower than your home’s true value. A good agent has your best interests at heart. They will help you set a fair and competitive selling price for your home, which will increase your odds of a quick sale. An agent will also have more experience negotiating home sales, helping you get more money than you could on your own. If any problems crop up during the process, an experienced professional will also be there to handle them for you.   

 

Contact us  

By choosing a trusted Guild Member, you’re ensuring a professional, safe, and fruitful transaction.

Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation