How do I sell my house FAST?

[BibiThree]

We're putting the house on the market next week and want tips to get people over the door and fall in love with it?
We're in the middle of neutralising all the rooms, pale colours, removing personal things and de-cluttering (i.e. filling MIL's spare room with our junk things)

Anything else we should be doing to attract interest?

price is the most important factor but I think that the sales gloss can help attract viewers

All the usual things regarding presentation but price is most important. Get quotes from a number of agents and price it mid-range to start. If a neighbout is selling a similar property start off by undercutting them straight away, your property will then have the advantage of being fresh on the market and cheaper. Don't mess around negotiating on small things, for example if you are selling to first time buyers and you can throw in appliances, curtains, blinds offer to do so at no extra charge.

Regarding selling 'lifestyle' have details of commuting routes/ times / costs if you are in a commuting area. Details of good local schools & if your children are at a well regarded school, school calendar / event leaflet on the noticeboard.

It is all about location and price in a tricky market.Buyers are wise to pot plants and staged looking bathrooms!Clean bright spaces where they can visualise their own stuff is good and storage has imo been one of the reasons I have often sold houses which i thought may be tricky.Fancy accesories will possibly make someone choose yours over another similar house but unlikely atm.Make it a 'bargain' and it will sell

We've just sold ours (STC - so fingers crossed!) and given all the doom about the market I was prepared for a really long wait.

However we had 3 offers in 3 days and sold for a few k off asking price.

If your kitchen is tired, a really cheap trick is to change the doors. Costs a couple of hundred quid and as long as the worktops are in good condition, it makes the kitchen look almost new. It's an afternoon's work to unscrew the old doors and screw the hinges into the new ones.

I tried to get myself and the kids out for viewings - there's nothing like a hoard of kids to make the place feel small!

If you have carpets then get them properly cleaned, and consider getting the windows washed as it makes the house look a lot lighter and more sparkly.

But I agree with others that ultimately it's about the right location, the right agent, and, more importantly, the right price.

Good luck!

we struggled to get offers on our flat, a lot of feedback was about the squashy hallway. So we repainted it, got a gorgeous carpet for it and covered it in huge white fancy shabby chic mirrors. Seemed to work because we started to get offers. And sold.

Id say identify weak areas that may be critisized and work hard to improve.

Post photos and we can tell you

Oooh, that's an idea, I will get some photies on here asap for some honest to goodness feedback!
Thank you all for the contributions, I am getting 3 vaulations this week so will price sensibly, although we are in no mad rush now as the house we wanted is sstc, we still really want to sell, but don't ahve such an urgency.

Price. We have just had a cash offer after 5 days on the market because we priced it lower than anything equivalent in the immediate area (several houses on same street been on market for anything between 6 and 12 months still not sold). De-cluttering and nice photos will get viewers in, but they aren't going to buy it because your kitchen is shiny and you don't have flowery duvets. If there are houses the same style/size/condition as yours that are not selling then you have to make something about yours different, and that is the asking price.

Obviously price is important, but I do think you are right to be cleaning and tidying as well. It's amazing how many people can't see through other people's "stuff" and are influenced by it, even though it's not going to be there if they buy.

We bought a house which was a muddle, and had stuff lying around, mostly outside (bits of machinery, concrete blocks etc) and it didn't sell for ages and ages - and I'm sure this was a factor. We got a good price because they were desperate, and I'm sure if they'd done a proper tidy up - even just by putting all the stuff neatly together - it would have sold quicker!

Having a clean and tidy house does matter though so you definitely doing the right thing (and I bet you feel very virtuous!).

Oooh I'll wait for the pics then

I'll be honest mind! DH cringes at the feedback I'm giving to Estate agents when we view houses but I prefer to be direct (am not rude though!)

I would be put off by lots of plants - would surely make house look cluttered.

I would put most toys in a cupboard and just leave out a few nice wooden ones. Generally try to de clutter and move stuff in boxes to loft or garage.

A coat of paint particularly in the hall - first impressions. Clear all possible clutter from hall.

Bathroom - only leave minimal toiletries out.

Kitchen - clear surfaces and clean sink.

Garden mown and wooden deckchairs and parasol out. Take down trampoline if you have one..makes garden look smaller.

I'd agree with others saying not to be in when people come round...it is too easy to talk too much and give away the odd drawback of the house/area.

Lots of good advice here, so I'll stick in a cheeky question too - would you rather view a completely vacant house or a furnished one? Am about to try and sell rental house but not sure if it would be worth 'dressing' it for viewings once the tenant has left.

theyoungvisitor would like to know more about changing kitchen unit doors. Are all units a standard size? Can I just count the number needed and go into Homebase and buy some?

Bibithree just wanted to say you have my sympathy trying to sell a house with 2 year old twins. I have been in the same position and it was torture .

I asked the estate agent to group viewings - so say 3 on a saturday morning, rather than having them spaced out, meant it was easier to prepare. If its at weekend too, my H was around to take the children out.

I had clean duvets in duvet covers in a wardrobe, with throws, cushions etc, with clean towels etc, that I could swap at a moment's notice - after the viewing they went back in the wardrobe until the next viewing. Similarly with toys - had a huge plastic box that lived in the garage - whipped it out before viewings to collect all the toys / debris, hid it in the garage, then brought it back out again after the viewing. I agree that it doesn't really affect whether a house will sell (I agree thats probably just down to location, price and the size of the property) but meant that the house was presentable quickly and I could agree to viewings.

I agree with skihorse ask your agent for what price to put it on for to sell quickly

Price price price. And no chain (move to rented if necessary). But mostly price.

This thread started two and a half years ago (was bumped by a deleted message) so I hope BibiThree has sold by now :)

We are doing some preliminary research over a very wide area in preparation for possible retirement. I have been really surprised that quite a lot of properties on Rightmove don't have a floor plan - which I think is essential. When we start looking for teh barn conversion/cottage of our dreams I won't be trekking out to see anything without a floorplan.