How to prepare for sale

[Fenellapitstop]

I've decided that my house is definitely going on the market next weekend, I've been here 13 years and it's my first home. Kitchen and bathrooms have been done in the last couple of years. The house does need a lock of paint but that's it.

The estate agent is coming next Friday to do the photos. What should I do between now and then to make her look lovely? I was thinking clean top to bottom, clear out some crap, flowery plants on the pots on the patio. Clean windows and woodwork and dedog the house. Anything else?

We had a new duvet cover on a spare duvet, whipped out for viewings and photos, so the bed / beds always looked fresh.

Keep it well aired all the time; agents might show someone around at short notice & you don't want it to seem stuffy/smelly

Also, any dark area - leave those lights on

Make sure you have final say on the photos and description before they go live on Rightmove and the EA's website. Too many of them take poor photos and write crappy blurb.

We decluttered, fresh ironed bedding, plumped pillows. Cleaned front door and windows. Tidied away coats, dressing gowns etc. Tidied away fireguards, pictures on fridge. Polished anything metallic so that light would reflect more. Oh and removed all toiletries, bathmat etc from bathroom

Ok, so clean like the elderly judgy member of the family is coming. Pick my pics and air the place constantly. I can do this

All done, pics were taken on Friday, House is on from Monday

Good luck with it all!

If you have a loft, hide stuff in there. You want the house to look lived in and enjoyed, but not bursting at the seams. We don’t have a loft so rented a storage unit - it’s cost me £150 for 4 months but we did sell in the first week.

She went on rightmove today just before 2, first viewing has been booked by 5, I'm a bit dumbstruck

That's great news!

All of the advice has paid off, I've just accepted an offer from a cash buyer at 310, 15k below the original asking price

That's great - I hope it all goes smoothly for you.