How to Prepare And Get your House Ready to Sell Faster

If you’re looking to sell your home fast then there are a few things you need to bear in mind.

It is important to realise that everyone who comes to view your property doesn’t have the same emotional attachment to it as you do.

The notches on the door frame where you’ve lovingly measured your children’s growth spurts will probably just look like extra work for a potential buyer.

You might love a wild and natural garden, whereas a potential buyer might prefer a more stripped-back, minimal look that they won’t have to spend too much time on. If you want to sell your property fast, you need to put yourself in the shoes of a viewer and start preparing your house for sale before putting it on market.

Here are some helpful tips on how to get your home ready to sell fast:

De-clutter

Over time, you accrue lots of things that can get shoved away in a cupboard, basement or shed. Now is the time to consider clearing out the things you no longer need, things that are broken or that you need to be less sentimental about.

A house that has less clutter will not only be far more appealing to potential buyers, but it will make your onward move so much smoother.

Chip away at things while you have the time and you’ll soon notice a difference once the viewings start racking up.

You may even make some money if you post items on local classifieds auction websites.

Neutralise & De-personalise

You don’t have to be a DIY expert to make changes to your property. Simple changes can have a big impact. Give the place a lick of paint in neutral colours to take as much personalisation out of the property as possible. Not all viewers have the ability to imagine a property as a blank canvas. By toning down your décor and tidying away anything that makes it too ‘yours’ you’ll hopefully enable them to visualise living there.

Check that grouting in the bathroom and kitchen is clean and re-grout where necessary. You don’t have to invest in a new kitchen or bathroom suite, but you could always replace or fix cupboard doors or handles just to give a better overall look that shows off the property’s potential.

Getting carpets cleaned, either using a professional company or hiring the tools to do it yourself, will refresh your home, especially if you have pets. Removing smells and breathing life back into your carpets will appeal to viewers. Finally, make sure that all lightbulbs are working and replace any that have blown.

Get Green Fingered

Make sure that your garden is neat. No one wants to see a garden or yard that looks like a dumping ground so take some time to get rid of bits and pieces that have been tossed aside for another day. If you have a pressure washer then give your paving stones the once over.

You don’t need to plant pretty flowers or invest much money in the garden, but doing the basics will make a huge difference.

Things like fixing or replacing broken fence panels, mowing the lawn and removing weeds from the driveway or pathway up to the house, will give any viewers a good first impression.

Pets

Unfortunately, not everyone likes pets or the smell they could create in your home so you might want to make your fluffy family member’s favourite items a little less conspicuous.

Things like pet beds and litter trays are the sort of things that could turn off a prospective purchaser, but so can falling over a discarded toy or bone! Tidy up and clear out as much pet stuff as you possibly can before viewings.

Enhance kerb appeal

First impressions count, especially when it comes to presenting your home to potential buyers.

Improving how your property looks from the outside is as important as how it feels once you’re inside, yet it often gets overlooked. Make sure that the front garden, if you have one, is tidy, all of your windows are sparkling, and the front door looks inviting.

Doing these small jobs will, again, make a big impact on your buyers.

How to make your house look good for selling

To show your house off in the best possible way, you need to make it feel light and airy.

This is easier in the spring and summer when you have lighter evenings and people can experience this directly.

Clean your windows and throw them open to let fresh air into the property. Aerating your house will help to entice potential buyers. Bad smells, particularly pet or cooking odours, are really off-putting for viewers.

This is more difficult in the winter months. Then you’re best adding some cosy lighting and using lightly scented candles to make your house extra inviting. Don’t be stingy on your heating for viewings in the colder months either.

Pop your heating on an hour or so before the viewers arrive so that they’ll instantly feel welcome and warm. You’ll be surprised at how effective this can be.

View Right

Pick the right agent to support you with viewings. It’s often better if the agent undertakes the viewings for you because a potential buyer will feel less pressurised and will ask the questions they really want to know the answer to.

A good agent will build a rapport with a buyer and be informed enough about your property so that they highlight the best bits and downplay anything slightly negative.

This is not an exhaustive list, but should get you on the right track to sell your property quickly. If the open market isn’t working out for you then The Property Buying Company can help.

They buy any house, in any location and in any condition for a fair cash sum.