Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Small touches when selling a house

52 replies

MotherEarthisaTerf · 03/08/2023 17:54

About to put our house on the market. Going to ask estate agents what changes we should make to help it sell.

Just wondering what little things you've done that you think helps make it appealing? Eg back when we had a cat and sold the last house I would put the cat in a carrier case in the car with the cat litter box. We also need to do a rapid and rigorous declutter.

Thinking I will get reed diffusers to help home smell nice. Get a nice new blanket for sofa.

Should I bake some bread? Joke! Any ideas welcome.

OP posts:
AHugeTinyMistake · 04/08/2023 15:26

Declutter - you can have a few knick naks around but things on shelves should be nicely laid out, not overcrowded. Paperwork should be tidied away out of sight

We had a couple of freestanding storage bits in the kitchen, got rid of those and reorganised cupboards so everything went into the kitchen units instead. Clear worktops apart from kettle & toaster. Basically you don't want to give the impression there's not enough storage.

Staged the dining table with a cloth, placemats, cutlery, glasses etc and a vase of flowers

Beds pristine, windows cleaned, front steps and pavement swept, lawn mowed, borders neat, got rid of any moss on the patio.

smartiesnskittles · 04/08/2023 16:19

Declutter, then declutter again. Then hide your clutter for photos and viewings!

As long as it's nest, tidy and clean, don't worry about lots of touch ups. Take photos of rooms, then look at them to see what you could change or move. Fresh flowers and fruit is a simple, pleasant touch.

Cat/dog smells or hair has put me off properties.

First impressions count, so a pot with flowers etc out the front and a clear hallway are helpful. Good luck!

user1471523870 · 04/08/2023 16:28

I would add:

  • take the rubbish out well in advance and make sure the bins are clean
  • wash blankets, cushion covers, sofa covers etc
  • make sure outside your front door is tidy and nice: remove weeds if you have a garden/driveway, remove clutter, wash windows, clean the door...
Iwishmynamewassheilah · 04/08/2023 16:34

Put personal items away out of sight. A few photos are ok but I once saw prescription meds on a bedside table which was a bit too outing, I think.

Renoroom · 04/08/2023 16:36

Declutter - we removed a garage worth of ‘stuff’ to a friends

do any easy maintenance - eg replace sealant on baths if any black / any paint touch ups if needed

Clean and tidy - fresh air, fresh flowers, no diffusers or candles as people often think they stink. Ditto garden, weeded and lawn mown.

any useful information about the property (boiler/ electrics etc) to hand

remove everyone from the property other than who is doing the viewing. Remove cars if there is a drive so they can see the house and park themselves.

good estate agent with decent photos! (Do all of the above first).

It took us a bit of thought and effort when we last sold to get ready before putting it onto the market. I don’t know if it helped on price but I think it definitely helped with getting viewings and offers.

billy1966 · 04/08/2023 16:51

Totaly · 04/08/2023 15:19

Go round and take some photos and look at them - surprising what you notice

This.

Declutter.

Take lots of photos.

Pour over them.

You will notice things.

Really give a deep clean.

Ask a good friend to be really honest with you.

People love a sense of fresh space, so lots of open windows and less is more.

billy1966 · 04/08/2023 16:53

.........and kerb appeal.

Plant up some nice pots and give your outside space a real clean up.

The less people see they have to do and the quicker they can imagine themselves living there, the better.

GG1986 · 04/08/2023 17:20

Main thing is to get rid of clutter or at least hide it inside cupboards. Also take all the shampoo bottles etc out of bathroom/hide them. Make the rooms light, no bright colours. Don't have lots of stuff out on kitchen sides. Nice cushions on sofa and bed.

user1471538283 · 04/08/2023 17:30

Declutter as much as you can. Scrub until everything is sparking and smells fresh. Open windows.

I've always put fresh flowers around as well although I don't know if they helped.

madamsapple · 04/08/2023 17:35

GG1986 · 04/08/2023 17:26

A lot of this is photoshopped.

Maireas · 04/08/2023 17:41

Two things: location and price.
Beyond that - I wouldn't worry too much about clutter, we viewed a house where the couple had a baby and a toddler - there were items hanging off the bannisters and it was understandably quite cluttered, but we were looking for a certain price in the area, got the room measurements, so it didn't matter.
The only thing that's bothered me in one house was the dog smell. I'm not sure how long that takes to get rid of, so we didn't go for that one.

Maireas · 04/08/2023 17:42

madamsapple · 04/08/2023 17:35

A lot of this is photoshopped.

Show quote history

It's odd, isn't it?

NotMeNoNo · 04/08/2023 17:53

You basically want to make your house look it's best for pictures, so clean and tidy and sensibly decluttered and with un-photogenic bits out of shot. If you look at similar houses on Rightmove you will soon get a feel for what makes houses look "ordinary", "lovely" or "neglected".
It's worth taking some dummy photos of your own as you might spot tangled wires or a scruffy bookcase that you don't notice every day. Try and have a plant or flowers and a bit of colour in every main room.

We bought a few "dressing" items- duvet covers, a mirror, some cushions and cheap ornaments - all came with us to new house and still useful. However the market was quieter then, you'd probably sell as soon as you open the door these days.

GetOurraMeWay · 04/08/2023 17:56

I bought last year and looked at about 12 houses in total. The things that stay with me 12 months later are clutter and smells!! Also stuff like wonky paving in the front garden, unfinished door sills etc.

LividHot · 04/08/2023 18:10

Ruthless decluttering/hiding of "stuff"
Driveway clear
Bins empty
Scrupulously clean
All the side lights and lamps on, even if it's daytime
Windows wide open before the viewing
I'm allergic to cats and dogs, no visible animal detritus and if I can smell them I'm not buying your house, soz
No artificial smells, though!
I'd had a homemade apple crumble in when our estate agent came round. She commented I should make another before viewings. I didn't but still.
Remember that you're selling a lifestyle, not a house in some cases. Make it aspirational. Stunt hand soap, white fluffy towels. No scrubby dressing gowns hanging on doors.
Fresh flowers as if you're the sort of person that always has them

Last but not least: STUNT PINEAPPLE. It sold my house in January in this awful market.

caringcarer · 04/08/2023 18:20

Pressure wash any drives, paving slabs/patio areas.

Weed the garden and mow the lawn. Also edge the lawn.

Trim back any unruly growing shrubs/trees.

Put a few pots of colourful flowers on the patio.

Make sure no cobwebs and wipe over all skirtings.

Does the paintwork need a touch up?

Clean the windows.

Hanging basket or tub of flowers by front door.

Frosty1000 · 04/08/2023 18:47

Fresh air is the best so open everything beforehand

Don't do viewing yourself

Make sure estate agents know the area/what sells location etc like the park is X many minutes walk or the local school is highly regarded etc

Take down all pictures with you/your family in them - you don't want to be known to the viewer

Don't stuff stuff into cupboards/wardrobe as they're bound to open that one door

We had our second duvet with a posh cover on it that we kept for viewings - so we shoved the other one up the loft so the bedroom always looked neat and tidy rather than a slept in bedding

Load all last minute bits into a box/your washing basket to put into your car.

Have expensive/posh hand wash/shampoos/shower gel etc in bathroom/ensuite just for viewings

Dress your front entrance - have a great colourful plant in appt by the door etc

Think that's it from me 🙂

Original poster
MotherEarthisaTerf · 04/08/2023 19:23

Stunt pineapple! I've just had to google it Grin

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 04/08/2023 19:23

BrookNoRivals · 03/08/2023 18:03

I find smells like diffusers off-putting and would worry they were to cover eg the smell of damp.

This. ^

Rigorous declutter, clean and tidy is all it takes to move as quickly as is possible in market conditions.

Maireas · 04/08/2023 19:31

Plus, don't worry about the "lifestyle" stuff. In all the houses I've bought I've never noticed what kind of towels or handwash folks had!. That comes from these tv shows and is over egged.
The basics are fine. If it's a good price for the location, it'll sell. Just keep it clean and odour free! Good luck 🤞

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 04/08/2023 19:34

A fresh lick of paint
A clean house.

FeigningConcern · 04/08/2023 20:15

Don't use any reed diffusers or air fresheners. Allergies to fragrance is very common plus they can cause problems for people with lung conditions (eg COPD or asthma). I have a fragrance allergy and wouldn't be able to view your house if it were full of reed diffusers.

FeigningConcern · 04/08/2023 20:16

And as others have said a clean house which smells neutral is much more appealing universally.

MadeInChorley · 04/08/2023 22:12

Urgh, that Bristol house is photoshopped. Poorly concreted drive, wrinkled plastic grass polluting the country and strange light fittings. It’s a no from me.