Tips for house selling

[Whatinthelord]

So I’m putting my house on the market. I want to make it as attractive as possible (for an ugly ex council pebbledash place).

What are peoples tips for little bits and bobs you can do to make the home more appealing in photos and when being viewed?

I’ve already gone around and cleared each room, so it looks less cluttered and larger. I’ll be a making the outside look a bit nicer by hiding the bins and moving our trailer from right outside the living room window (where my annoying husband parks it constantly).

Any other easy tips to improve the saleability (is that a word) of a house?

Clean, tidy, but still homely. It's not necessary to go out and buy all white bedding and iron it (I have read this on here). Remove personal items but don't make it bare and sterile. Make sure any small DIY jobs are done. Remove clutter from bathrooms and kitchen to emphasise counter space, etc. Remove cat litter trays/pet bowls/beds and open windows to air the place.

@WeAreTheHeroes thanks. Sounds like what I have done in the rooms so far (put pictures and Nic Nacs away but left the odd thing on the shelves etc).

I will look at the kitchen sides again because I think maybe I could move a few more bits from there to make it look nicer

If you can, walk up to and round the house as you would on a viewing - anything which jars or should be put away move. Also think about the way you have furniture laid out. For example, if you've a dining table pushed to one side of a room, pull it into the centre. Flowers and houseplants can add interest.

@WeAreTheHeroes

If you can, walk up to and round the house as you would on a viewing - anything which jars or should be put away move. Also think about the way you have furniture laid out. For example, if you've a dining table pushed to one side of a room, pull it into the centre. Flowers and houseplants can add interest.

Ahh the table idea is great! I’ll do that for sure!!

Funnily enough I thought about plants…I haven’t got any but wish I could temporarily hire some. Maybe I’ll get some flowers?!

I sold a few years ago and moved all appliances other than the microwave off the surfaces. It made the kitchen look so much bigger!! Ditto in bathroom. Its not practical, but I think it helped!

People don't want to buy a lived in house, they want a fantasy of neatness that isn't really practical for real life!

Cram 90% of your possessions into cupboards/car in bin bags.

Air it: lots of houses smell fusty or of pets.

@LividLaVidaLoca

Cram 90% of your possessions into cupboards/car in bin bags.

Air it: lots of houses smell fusty or of pets.

Should I pop an air freshener in or will that be too much?!

I usually burn inscence but I’m worried that might be off putting

No air freshener or incense! Yuck! You can’t fake the smell of an aired, clean house.

At the moment, I think you just need to put a board outside and it will sell.

Agree no fake scents.

Really off putting and you wonder what they’re trying to hide. Get everything open to air for days in advance and deep clean anything that might smell.

Uurgh, no scents!

The cliches of having smells of baking bread and coffee are good ones. No way was I going to find time to bake bread, but we did have a pot of coffee on.

I find it easier to see what's out of place about my room on a photo than in real life. Take some photos on your phone and see if anything looks like it could be improved.

Each room needs an obvious purpose. People have no imagination.

If a double bed can fit in a bedroom, consider putting a double in if you can, to demonstrate it. (Doesn't need to be expensive, the bed will be covered with bed linen.)

Expect people to look in all your cupboards and to turn your taps etc on.

Are you doing the viewings or is it an estate agent?

@shesellsseacats

Are you doing the viewings or is it an estate agent?

An estate agent

Ok ok no Incense 😂
I’ll give the house a good air, although I open windows every day because I like fresh air anyway.

Honestly, we just sold a very ordinary house for 30k above the asking price without doing anything at all other than cleaning it, after only two days of viewings. I wouldn’t go crazy on prepping if it’s well-priced for your market.

I posted similar a few weeks ago putting my tiny 3 bed semi up for sale. I have two kids, one a 6 month old baby so we have a lot of stuff. I hid loads in the car. I fretted over every little detail, but it didn't matter. If the big stuff like kitchen, bathroom, windows and boiler are all up to scratch and it's priced reasonably, it will sell. I had 20 viewers over 6 days and 5 offers. It went for 12k above asking price (which was 18k over what I paid for it 5 years ago).

Taking photos on your phone helps see any little imperfections though, things like loose cables etc.

@Wonderbox and @bookishtartlet thanks for that, I hope we have the same experience. Thought it’s quite scary to think it might sell fast too!

I just sold my house in a few hours and had 20 viewings the day after it hit rightmove. My tips are clean, clean and clean some more. Also we painted bathrooms to freshen and then completely decluttered. Everyone said how well presented it was and was nice to be able to visualise themselves in the house as was minimal “stuff”

[quote Whatinthelord]**@Wonderbox* and @bookishtartlet* thanks for that, I hope we have the same experience. Thought it’s quite scary to think it might sell fast too![/quote]
Well, we needed it to sell ASAP, so we priced competitively, chose someone without a chain, and pushed for the earliest possible completion. Even then, offer was accepted May 19th and completion start of August, so not very fast. Our solicitor was a model of efficiency. The buyer’s not so much. Good luck with yours, OP.

I’m viewing 2 places today so I am also hoping that looking at other houses will give me an idea about what to do to make my more attractive.

@Whatinthelord

I’m viewing 2 places today so I am also hoping that looking at other houses will give me an idea about what to do to make my more attractive.

Exciting times!

I love viewing houses. Just shit I had to do it in a pandemic and couldn’t enjoy any tap-turning or whatnot.

I remember when I last viewed houses 9 years ago, they pretty much ALL had 50 Shades of Grey on the bedside table. The houses had been dressed to view, so it hadn't been left out by accident, we were meant to see it.

I had no idea what a cultural phenomenon that really shit book was before then, but also I never worked out why so many people thought they should display it for house viewings?!

Maybe it was suggested on one of those property programs or something?!

Not a suggestion OP, please don't do this .
This thread just reminded me of it. If anyone can shed any light on it I'd be greatful, it still baffles me!

Definitely as above, clean and make it feel homely but uncluttered - people want to feel like they could live there but like space. If it's in a hot area and will sell quickly, that is literally as much as you need to do at the moment.

And I agree, no powerful smells, just give it a good airing. I also don't agree with the bread and coffee cliche, people see through that these days.

@shesellsseacats ha ha…if anything that would put me off a house.😂 how bizarre!