Top tips for selling your house

MintChocCornetto · 2023-01-02T14:12:40+00:00

Getting the house valued on Friday, got 3 estate agents coming over. Frantic cleaning and tidying happening today. Things are being 'decluttered' to the cellar which is less than ideal but I'm hoping we can book a tip run after work next week. We were FTBs when we bought this house & have never sold before. The house is not pristine but we can't redecorate in 4 days so it is what it is! As long as it's clean and tidy that should be ok right? What should I not overlook?

HandScreen · 02/01/2023 14:14

Rent a storage unit for a few days to get rid of your clutter. Have fresh flowers in vases around the house.

Ayeaken · 02/01/2023 14:28

It's not so important for valuation, they'll go off comparable properties in your areas which have sold recently to determine the value.

Cleaning and decluttering are more important for marketing photos and viewings. For viewings, have fresh flowers, burn a nice scented candle before viewers arrive and open all blinds fully to let as much natural light in as possible (unless the view is off- putting). If it's a dull day, put all lamps on (not the main lights) to make it feel cosy and homely.

SnarkyBag · 02/01/2023 14:34

Spotlessly clean and decluttered along with being realistically priced and you’ll be fine

RunLolaRun102 · 02/01/2023 14:36

You don’t need to tidy up for the valuation. It’s just for the photos and viewings afterwards. We decluttered massively (donated/recycled), put DS’ pushchair and things we don’t need everyday into the car. I packed up most of the kitchen utensils almost immediately and we only had one pot, one wooden spoon, and DS’ weaning essentials for aes. Just keep in mind that you may sell quickly - we got two offers & despite our first choice buyer pulling out we still went from starting viewings to completion in 3 weeks. Because our stuff was in boxes it was easier to move out & DS & I moved out first to a rental while DH tidied up

SnarkyBag · 02/01/2023 14:38

Oh yes make sure house is well aired and smells fresh. When we were viewing houses there were a few that I just couldn’t get past the smell to properly consider it!

planefullofotters · 02/01/2023 14:38

RunLolaRun102 · 02/01/2023 14:36

You don’t need to tidy up for the valuation. It’s just for the photos and viewings afterwards. We decluttered massively (donated/recycled), put DS’ pushchair and things we don’t need everyday into the car. I packed up most of the kitchen utensils almost immediately and we only had one pot, one wooden spoon, and DS’ weaning essentials for aes. Just keep in mind that you may sell quickly - we got two offers & despite our first choice buyer pulling out we still went from starting viewings to completion in 3 weeks. Because our stuff was in boxes it was easier to move out & DS & I moved out first to a rental while DH tidied up

3 weeks to completion? Not in the UK, surely?

PinkPlantCase · 02/01/2023 14:42

RunLolaRun102 · 02/01/2023 14:36

You don’t need to tidy up for the valuation. It’s just for the photos and viewings afterwards. We decluttered massively (donated/recycled), put DS’ pushchair and things we don’t need everyday into the car. I packed up most of the kitchen utensils almost immediately and we only had one pot, one wooden spoon, and DS’ weaning essentials for aes. Just keep in mind that you may sell quickly - we got two offers & despite our first choice buyer pulling out we still went from starting viewings to completion in 3 weeks. Because our stuff was in boxes it was easier to move out & DS & I moved out first to a rental while DH tidied up

Also keep in mind that it may take several months to sell.

It’s a very very difficult market at the moment. Worse than anything we’ve seen for the last 10 years or so.

PinkPlantCase · 02/01/2023 14:44

What you need is someone telling you how they sold their house in 2008/09 🤣

RandomUsernameHere · 02/01/2023 14:47

Don't worry too much about tidying for the valuation but definitely do for the photos and viewings. The main thing I always notice in listings is messy bathrooms with loads of toiletries and cleaning products left out. I would definitely put those away out of sight.

donttalkaboutbookclub · 02/01/2023 14:51

Make sure your house looks good for the 'drive by' potential viewers - if people possibly can they will have a look from the outside first before making an appointment. Plants by the door in nice pots, smart mat, clean paint, clear away all the leaves etc, just the obvious stuff.

Original poster

MintChocCornetto · 02/01/2023 14:53

Yeah it's a tricky time - I don't know really what to expect.

We don't need to sell to buy the next house, I don't know if that's even something people care about? I don't mind if prices are on their way down it's just what that means for availability of property to buy. Suspect people may hang on if they don't need to move.

I've seen reductions in the area we want to move to.

Ok, so a pristine house is not needed until marketing pics/viewings - that is GREAT news haha

I'm ordering a new set of room scents from Sephora as we speak, I treated myself last Xmas and they are all now finished or on the dregs. AND they are on sale.

OP posts:

PinkPlantCase · 02/01/2023 14:55

If you don’t need to sell then if there’s a house you want crack on and buy that and be chain free. Then you can advertise your house as chain free. Will increase interest and hopefully make your life easier.

I expect being chain free will have a much bigger impact than any extra tidying

planefullofotters · 02/01/2023 15:23

Right now I’d say a big thing is also to go for a realistic price and avoid ‘offers over’ or ‘offers in excess of’ which looks deluded in the current market and irritates potential buyers.

Original poster

MintChocCornetto · 02/01/2023 16:05

As a buyer I agree 'offers over' 'OIEO' and this 'guide price' nonsense are annoying. I just want to know the number you want & it's frustrating on Rightmove filters when a house that says £X is actually £X + 50k or whatever.

OP posts:

good96 · 02/01/2023 16:21

At this stage, the property is being valued. Just give a good clean and tidy. EAs will have seen it all over the years. They will also make recommendations as to whether work should be done prior to marketing the property.

Would the property benefit from a lick of paint? If so, go a neutral colour. The new owners will have their own colour preferences anyway so no doubt will be re-decorated.
Doing the tip run isn’t necessary prior to the valuation, BUT it is when it comes to viewings… Have a rule… if you’ve not used it in a year (unless it’s sentimental) then you’ll probably never use it again… so bin it!

Lcb123 · 02/01/2023 16:23

more Important how it looks for the photos, for that you want it to be clean and tidy with as little clutter as possible. For valuation dont worry too much