Help - First Viewings tomorrow!

[missmarplesapprentice]

Selling our first home so never sold a house before and have no idea what to expect. Is there any additional things that would help make a good first impression?

Bit shocked as it only went on Rightmove yesterday afternoon and already have 5 viewings booked in the next couple of days! Starting to doubt why we are giving up such a good house sometimes but I know we need to move.

If anyone has any tips, they will very much appreciated! Thank you!

You will already know the main points - clean, tidy, remove clutter, critically evaluate each room as you leave it and make sure you haven't missed a coffee cup, put the loo seats down, open curtains fully, leave lamps /side lights on and bathroom/en suite lights. Don't use too much air freshener.

Hopefully your EA is doing the viewings so you can just shut the door and come back when its over - have they got the viewings lined up one after another?

If you have fitted appliances such as oven/fridge freezer, make sure they are clean too.

Ohh Thank you.

Yes, Have boxes of clutter in the attic/garage. I'm joking that my house has never looked as neat as the photos. I need to do most tonight as I only have an hour tomorrow between getting home from work and the agent arriving.
Thankfully 4 viewings are tomorrow back to back but 1 on Saturday morning too. This time the agent is doing them. I heard buyers prefer the owner not to do them so I (albeit reluctantly) have gone with them to do it. The agent knows if someone wants to look and they aren't available then I could step in.

Good tip on the air freshener. I have one in our conservatory (reed diffuser)...damn I have cleaned all the hob and in built-in microwave but totally forgot the oven grrrrr.

People have mentioned baking and flowers to me but seems like its a little OTT....?? Though I might stop at Tescos on my way home now for flowers lol (can't do any harm I suppose).

Dont forget that some people look in cupboards, and they will want to look in the garage so make sure your boxes of clutter are stacked neatly!

I always let the agent do the first viewing then I did any subsequent ones where I could answer the more detailed questions. Saves you getting your hopes up when the lovely person looking round is really enthusiastic to your face but tells the agent its too small/in the wrong area/too close to xyz and all the other reasons where you end up wondering why they even bothered to view! The EA should be more skilled in reading whether the viewers are seriously interested or not.

And no, baking is OTT as is fresh coffee. If its a cold day, leave the heating on low so its not too chilly.

Assuming you’re in the U.K., I wouldn’t leave the heating on low - you want it feeling nice and warm when they come in!

Thank you. Ironically its my DH who says to bake bread even though he was getting annoyed at me for tidying last night!! he seems to think that leaving out laundry is ok but baking break is required. He was swiftly told that won't be happening (I don't even have the time).

Yes we are in the UK, so I'll need to check the heating times. It's not normally a time of day I have it on so will need to check. Yes agent is doing the first viewings but I'd like to do the second ones (if we get any). But I am now doing 1 viewing this weekend as the viewer was keen and the agent was fully booked. Fingers crossed!

Off to check the garage/cupboard clutter after work now!

Nothing wrong with some fresh flowers but no need to go overboard. Good luck.

no baking, no coffee and NO stinking air 'fresheners' (there's no such thing) - all say that you are trying to hide something.

people look for space, outlook and maintenance. So if there are any bodges, now's the time to sort!

I really dislike the owner showing me around. I can't really look if they are following me around and I end up making stupid conversation when I'd rather be touching the walls for damp and checking the water pressure. And they all want you to say positive reassuring things when what you are really thinking is how awful the curtains are and the kitchen will have to come out immediately!
If you have pets ideally they should be out of the house but that's not always possible.
Clean your windows in and out too.

Make sure that the agents know the area and the house, and that there aren't 9 flats at the back but 3 townhouses!

Yes I agree, having an agent showing around especially on a first viewing is preferred, however, for 2 of the 8 viewers coming they were told that the agent didn't have availability till next Saturday so it was up to them if they'd rather wait. Neither of them wanted to and we actually already have an offer. It's a lower cash buyer right at the bottom of the "offers over" but fingers crossed someone else offers too. I think we've priced realistically which has really helped things too. Thanks for all your help.
Reed diffuser went down the sink, heating on low and fresh flowers in a vase. Now just to keep the house tidy for today's viewings...