Oh crap our house is going on the market! What advice do you wish you'd known?

[NeedMoreBoxes]

After a few chats at the start of the year we decide to visit an agent and enquire about potentially moving. Yesterday we had a very pleasantly shocking valuation meeting and so we've decided to take the plunge but it's all happening super quickly and what was only an idea a few weeks ago is now a reality and it's quite daunting.

So we have a photographer coming next week and we have this weekend to make a dent on sorting and clearing out our accumulated crap memories. Which will be fun with a toddler in the mix.

However I've never sold a house before and I have no idea what the fuckity fuck I'm doing which means I know there is lots of stuff I won't think to do. Therefore I thought I'd ask those who have recently sold.

So what are your best tips for photos, sorting, organising and selling. It a felt very exciting yesterday and now it just feels incredibly overwhelming.

@PerseverancePays

I'm decluttering, painting, planting primulas and daffs in the garden etc, so my question is how do you choose an estate agent and solicitor/conveyancer? Do you have any say in the frankly awful pictures some of them post? As in so many have a close up of a lid up loo and no picture of the actual bathroom. What's that about? Surely the actual loo is a given? Or close ups of random bits of furniture with no idea if it's in the hall or on the landing? I am dreading the actual selling bit and dealing with that part of it. Solicitors and estate agents seem to make it all more stressful.

Estate agent - I'd look at what's on rightmove in your area. Look at the descriptions and photos. How well do you think they're presenting the houses they are selling?

I ditched one agent becuase the photos were quite frankly awful, and they missed giving any attention in the description to the main plus points for the house.

Subsequent agent much better - photos far far better and they actually did mention the plus points in the description.

If you know anyone who's sold locally, ask for recommendations.

Solicitors/conveyancers ditto - get a recommendation if you can.

@Bagelsandbrie

Start decluttering now. Don’t wait till you get an offer. Even if you do one bag a day / a box a week get rid of stuff so you’ve got less to pack when you do move.

yeh, get a skip. it's easier to tidy up when you have got rid of everything you wouldn't want to take to your next house already

@comfortablyfrumpy thank you, that makes so much sense.

Estate agent - who is selling in your area? How are they marketing the properties? Don’t go with the top price necessarily, one agent in our area is known for overpricing and being slower to sell. The other prices more or less on the nose and sells in days.

Solicitor - ring around and get the quotes in. Do not use the agent’s solicitor. It will be £££ and they will try the hard sell because they get a kickback.

Hide everything! Don't leave shampoos, plastic bottle etc in the bathroom. Make the beds properly.

Make your home look like a place someone else could enjoy, a lot of people struggle to see how they would fit in your home if it's surrounded with all your things so be as minimal and as impersonal as possible. Create a space that a new owner could slot into easily if that makes sense.

Prepare to be messed around. We had viewers not turn up and not even bother to tell the EA. We also had a viewer say they were looking for a house with the garage attached, our's clearly is'nt as seen in the photos

I would state only viewer's with a property on the market are allowed and cash buyers and FTB's. No idiots without their house even yet for sale

Hahahaha @burnthur5t

Idiots without their house for sale yet. That’s a good one. What about the idiots with their house for sale with nowhere to move to?

Thanks so much for all the brilliant advice so far and I'm really pleased the thread can help others.

Were hoping to do a tip run today and we've done some jobs already this morning. Am sure we've got a way to go yet but progress is progress. 😊😊

Why have you booked a photographer for next week and put yourself under pressure?

You are obviously not in a drastic hurry to move. Give yourself time to sort your house out. This is a long process and you need to take control and lead it.

I wasn't happy with the photographs my agent took and made them come back and do a proper job. If people don't like the photos they will scroll past without even considering the house.

You are lucky in that it's a seller's market so shouldn't have trouble getting offers. Take your time, get it right and you will save yourself a whole lot of angst.

Cancel the photographer. Get the house ready first and then book him in.

Photographers for houses vary wildly. Some might be in and styling for 2 hours. Some might come in and rush round all the rooms in 30 minutes. Prepare for the latter and hope for the former.

Quality of potential buyers is just as important as the offer amount. We declined a higher offer for buyers with an 80% deposit and living with parents, and I’m glad we did.

Great thread, can I jump in?
I started thinking about selling last year, and around Christmas decided I really want to do it.
This week, home with COVID so started to get the ball rolling...!
Have 2 x estate agents come round next week for valuations.
However, have also already found someone who's looking for a house in my area, and they come for a viewing next week?!
Haven't done any "prep" yet - house needs a massive declutter and garden tidying - it all feels rather daunting!
I had been thinking of sorting the house in March and then putting on the market in April, but looks like things might be moving even faster?
Also never sold before, so I'm rather shitting myself and not sure how I'm going to do it all, but it's also a bit exciting!
Good luck OP!

@ivykaty44

You could always pop your own photos up on here on Sunday night and let others help, you can ask for the photos to be removed from the thread after a couple of days, so you remain anonymous

Others here will see things you miss

Just going to say this. I sold my last house in 2 days because I'm ruthless with making it look good for photos

Spotlessly clean, minimalist and if necessary new accessories to dress house but things you can take with.
Eg. Smart kettle and toaster
Cushions and throws for sofa and beds.
Posh hand wash in bathroom and nice towels.

Don’t have crap on show under the bed, Ensure drawers are properly closed.
Big fruit bowl of fresh lemons or green apples, not both.

A good estate agent will show you the photos to approve before marketing.

Remember this is no longer your home, you’re selling a valuable asset for as much as possible.

Don't leave shampoos, plastic bottle etc in the bathroom

if you want to creat a "lifestyle" then place expensive products in the bathroom to make it look good

You must start looking for something else. I had to withdraw from a sale because I could not find anything to buy and the agent charged me 1/2 his commission because he had found a buyer but I did not proceed with my sale. To add - I had also sold another house previously quickly without somewhere else to move to and it was a nightmare so did not want to do that again..

Always check the estate agent’s details they are often wrong.We took all our own photos the agents were awful.Iron the bedding,stand back and really look at details.Remember it will be viewed on line first.Clear tops of cupboards especially in the kitchen,Plastic toys in the garden look awful clear them away.Only spend money on the garden ie pots that you can take with you.Good luck you will be fine.

Just going to say this. I sold my last house in 2 days because I'm ruthless with making it look good for photos

exactly my point

agree with crap under bed and on top of wardrobe, and actually screams not enough space

bed made - this means "dressed" not juts the duvet thrown over the bed haphazardly! But smoothed down so no wrinkles etc - ironed linen

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119437010#/?channel=RES_BUY

this house is identical to

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119639162#/?channel=RES_BUY

this

but id buy the batchelor close house as it decorated and presented nicer. I haven't got to move in a tackle dramatic wall colour changes and sort the front garden

@tara66

You must start looking for something else. I had to withdraw from a sale because I could not find anything to buy and the agent charged me 1/2 his commission because he had found a buyer but I did not proceed with my sale. To add - I had also sold another house previously quickly without somewhere else to move to and it was a nightmare so did not want to do that again..

If you are in England, you should not have withdrawn from the sale! If you couldn't move, you should have just been honest and said you were looking but hadn't found anything suitable. The buyers would have pulled out and you wouldn't have had to pay the EA. No idea of rules for other countries but you could have saved yourself that fee.

I hid all the rubbish bins for photos and showing, also all the soaps and shampoo bottles

I also bought a bedspread quilt thingy and just draped it over the bed before showings/photos and took it off after. It meant the bed looked perfect without having to bother as much. The one I bought was thick and didnt crease whereas my duvet cover always looks rumply. I also got brand new white towels for the bathroom and only put them out for the showings/photos

We got a pod and emptied every cupboard and drawer of everything we didnt need for the next 3 months (so all out of season clothing, big serving dishes, food processor, most books, photos and kids toys) and then quite a few bits of furniture as we didnt need them to store all the bits we had just packed up. Also all the spare chairs, bikes, garden tools, christmas decorations, stuff in the loft. We effectively we only left things we would have packed to go on holiday plus the most basic house kit. The pod then got taken to be stored at their warehouse and it was delivered to our new house after we moved.

Our house looked so spacious, our cupboards looked insta worthy as they werent jammed with stuff, I even looked like I had a capsule wardrobe which is completely untrue! All the rooms looked so big as their was literally only a bed and a bedside table in each bedroom and a sofa and a coffee table in the living room etc (not quite that bare but close to it).

We sold in 9 days, so all the hard work was worth it

a prospective buyer will often forgive a dated bathroom or kitchen if it's immaculately clean

A lot of prospective buyers - I’m one - actively love a dated kitchen or bathroom. You can rip it out and replace it with one you like with a clear conscience.

We founds the boots of our cars incredibly useful for storage for viewings!

Put your toilet lid down on photograph day.

The amount of pictures of bathrooms with the toilet lid up is not insignificant.

@NiceTwin

Put your toilet lid down on photograph day.

The amount of pictures of bathrooms with the toilet lid up is not insignificant.

Agreed! And bottles of shampoo and deodorant sitting around!

Any pet stuff hidden away!

Before the photographer comes around take things out and put in a box or 2 or more to clear surfaces!

It's tough but you need to remember that people want to buy a house, not your home. They don't want to see your knickknacks, your photographs, your decor, your memories. Just a nice clean house for them to imagine their stuff on

@LadyCleathStuart

If you have any mould around bathroom seals try and get it off. It amazed me how many people had mouldy bathrooms when we were looking last year, and I mean stunning modern bathrooms but with mouldy seals. I mean I know it happens and can't always be helped but ffs people buy some mould spray!

I agree re the decluttering, we took the kids toys and filled our biggest car up with them then left it on my parents driveway during photos and viewings.

However right now you honestly don't need to do that much, everything is selling fast and for a lot of money.

Good luck (I love selling houses, we have moved 5 times in 11 years).

I bleach my grouting regularly to avoid mould, but can't shift the mould from the sealant. It seems to become part of the plastic. What mould spray removes it?

@NeedMoreBoxes

Thanks so much for all the brilliant advice so far and I'm really pleased the thread can help others.

Were hoping to do a tip run today and we've done some jobs already this morning. Am sure we've got a way to go yet but progress is progress. 😊😊

That sounds like a great start. It's amazing how motivating a deadline can be.