Selling tips

[Norwegianwooded]

We are going on the market in ten days. Stressed out of our heads. Cleaning and decluttering . Please give me some moral support and tips on what to do. I’m utterly exhausted already.

One day this will all be a distant memory... What stage are you at? Have photos been taken or are you still clearing up for that?

Waiting for the valuation tomorrow. Photos next week. I’m cleaning non stop. It’s utterly shattering because we haven’t sold a house we’ve been living in since 2002.

Ugh, I bet you've got tons of stuff to deal with too! Decluttering is most important thing as it's easier to keep on top of cleaning when surfaces are clear. Have you got a system for getting items out? Doing decluttering for a set time after work, for example? The three box system of Keep, Donate, Don't Know - chuck items into the appropriate box and shift the box out when full, etc. Have you a garage, shed or helpful relative who can store things you'll need back?

My current house had loads of little crappy details that I would have sorted before putting the house on the market, like a dangling curtain rail. It needed the screws tightening, that was all. I fixed it in a minute. If you've got any little niggles like that outstanding, it's worth getting them done so the house looks well maintained.

I do feel for you, it's so stressful.

Garage is stuffed to the gills. The loft likewise. Putting loads of things on freecycle and stuffing things in cupboards everywhere we can. If anyone opens a cupboard there will be a flood of crap falling out. I just realise I haven’t cleaned anything properly in a long while..

Take photos yourself and look at them. You then notice things that look crap that you dont notice in everyday life.

Make the front door look smart and welcoming, as potential buyers might stand there a while before going in. Make sure if anyone drives by for a nosey that the front looks good, flowers in pots, no weeds etc. Last minute clutter before viewings can always go in the car boot if you're desperate! Good luck.

Are you committed to your timeline? We had our photos done - but had a bit more work to do to be viewing ready so told our EA we wanted to delay a few weeks before listing. We had time to pause and sort some more clutter as well as get a few odd jobs sorted (change out a rusty radiator, paint some tatty windowsills). Once we were ready we rang and said we were ready to list and it was on the market the next day. The pause really helped give us a breather from the pace of it. It is an additional cost but we have rented a storage unit for a short time. We have boxed up a load of stuff and got it out of the house which has taken a massive stress away which was clutter I wasn't able to sort or put away anywhere. We are on our second week of viewings but it is SO MUCH easier to maintain. Good luck!

The storage container is a good idea.

I did all my photos myself so that there was no clutter. They were SO much better than a lot I’ve seen on Rightmove. The bathroom only had crisp white towels and posh soap - no kids toys, bottles of shampoo etc.

Declutter as much as you possibly can.

Delay the photos if you are not ready.
My house photos were so lovely it was worth the getting up early and working until late. Having them is a wonderful memento.
Everything from hiding cables and blue-tacking them along the skirting to clearing your worktops of all signs of life takes far longer than you reckon.

If they haven’t given a valuation yet how do you know you’re going with them yet?
We are in a similar position but picked the agent and agreed how much to go on for.
Im not ready to do pictures and video yet as need to paint a room and I’m also massively decluttering.
Last time I moved stuff from room to room going around with the photographer. But now it’s all videos too so god knows how I’m gonna do that! Might have to fill my car that day - plus we have kids now!! And all their stuff!

The surveyor does the home report. I am in Scotland. They have given a figure they believe is correct and we have seen other agents too. We know what the house is likely to be valued officially for. It all depends on the home report.

Any idea of what to do with half head pots of things? I will empty some out but the rest I need to hide somehow. I’m going to buy new ones and a hanging basket in the next few days.

Half dead!

Garden waste

You are already decluttering which is great. Look at bedding does it look good/ complement the decor. I’m often put off by untidy looking beds weird I know. I’m also put off by a jungle of plants. Some house plants but not too over the top. Fresh flowers always help and in spring bunches of daffodils always brighten up the spaces.
Good luck with your sale.

I'm sure you know how to prep your home. My only learning from being on the market is don't accept an offer from someone with no mortgage in principle and then waste months believing their lies. 😕

On bedding the big tip is to put an additional duvet under your ‘on show’ duvet to give your bed fullness and height and extra degrees of luxe.
At night time you put the ‘on show’ duvet cover on a clothes airer to keep it smooth and pristine, and then sleep under the below one. It’s a performance but it works.

Is that why I see so many photos where it looks as if they are hiding a multitude of sins beneath the covers not to mention a body or two. 😂

lots of advice (and how not to market your home) on here Help me sell my house!! | Mumsnet

Just got into each room and look for the thing that catches your eye as the most weird/untidy or out of place and fix it.

Love this idea!

If you don't have a garden waste bin (and you don't have a helpful neighbour with space in theirs) it might be worth doing a tip run with things like that. It's worth doing though, you're right to consider it - dead plants are like broken things, they give an immediate impression of shoddy maintenance. Neat and tidy is the way to go.