That old saying, ‘failure to prepare and you prepare to fail’ doesn’t just ring true in interviews, it also applies to so much more in life and selling your home is no different. From physically tidying away any clutter to ensuring you have the necessary paperwork in place, we share our best advice on how you can get ahead of the competition to stand out to any buyer.
Paperwork
The more paperwork you can complete early puts you in a much better starting position. Getting as much admin done as early as possible will ensure the transaction has the best chance of running smoothly once you find a buyer.
Instruct a lawyer so they can get all their paperwork in order to obtain the necessary legal documents. One of the most common questions from a buyer at the moment is ‘are the sellers in a position to proceed?’ and being able to confidently say yes, is a real selling point.
Ensure all your paperwork relating to any building work such as planning permission sign-off, FENSA and electrical certificates is in order. These documents are essential and will delay most transactions if not readily available. It is also good practice to ensure that your boiler service records are up to date.
If you require a mortgage for your onward purchase, ensure you have all the necessary paperwork such as payslips, and tax returns for your application.
Outdoor Preparation
Kerb appeal matters. Approach your home as if you were just coming to look at it for the first time. Does your drive or path need a new layer of gravel? Could it benefit from being power hosed to give it a quick facelift? Ensuring all lawns, borders and hedges are freshly cut can give a great first impression. Clean the windows as this will flood the property with more natural light.
During the spring and summer months, dressing your outdoor spaces is really important. The trend for outdoor living has exploded in the last few years so think about where the sun comes up and sets – could you add a seating area with a fire-pit or a raised bed to encourage home grown produce? If you’re selling during the autumn and winter months, think about outdoor lighting to show off different parts of your gardens and collect any fallen leaves.
Get the indoor photography ready
People are aspirational and buy into lifestyles so ensuring you give that great first impression throughout is fundamental to ensuring the photos look as good as they can. As mentioned above, tidying up driveways and paths is important but if it is messy inside, that early excitement could fall flat very quickly. The entrance is the first thing you see so ensure this is clear from any clutter such as shoes, umbrellas, and coats. A fresh coat of paint will give your home a quick facelift and freshen up those high-traffic areas like halls and landings.
Dressing a room
If you’re dressing your home one of the easiest things you can do is ensure all lights are working and there are no bulbs that need replacing. If you have a dark corner, a well-placed lamp will help. Make seating areas inviting with plumped cushions and well-positioned throws. Keeping your log pile well stocked is important if you have an open fire.
Declutter
While homes should feel lived in, decluttering gives buyers a good sense of space, sees the potential of the home and makes the property feel more welcoming. You don’t want buyers to focus on ‘stuff’ so sort shelves, cupboards, lofts, and outbuildings to ensure everything has a place. If there are children in the home, try to keep toys in one part of the room so it isn’t overwhelming when buyers walk around. Likewise, with pets, clear away any toys and perhaps invest in a few well-placed diffusers.
If you have any further questions about preparing your home for sale or want to find out how we can help you, contact me at steven@carrollproperty.co.uk