Top ten tips on how to sell your home

The housing market in the UK is always the subject of much discussion amongst industry experts. When are houses being bought? What trends can we see in homebuyers’ behaviour? Where are the most popular areas? The questions can be endless! 

There has been much positive news in relation to the UK’s housing market in recent months. 

In May, Zoopla stated that ‘agreed house sales climbed 11% higher than the five-year average, which appears to have convinced more sellers to put their properties on the market’. While, according to Nationwide, ‘house prices grew 0.5% in April, the first monthly rise since the mini-budget in September last year’. 

These positive statistics indicate that the housing market is a fruitful one and competition could be fierce for sellers looking to get the attention of would-be buyers. 

So, how can you best market your home? How can you secure a quick sale? Here are Harvey Homes’ top ten tips on how to sell your home quickly!

1.     Choose a knowledgeable estate agent

At the beginning of the house sale process, it’s always a good idea to have at least two estate agents come around to value your home. Not only does this give you the opportunity to get the right valuation for your home, but it also allows you to find out more about the people whom you will be relying on to sell your home. 

Choosing a knowledgeable estate agent is absolutely key. Ask them questions such as:

·      Do they know the area well? 

·      How experienced are they with your house type? 

·      What prices have they achieved for their house sales recently? 

·      How are they planning on marketing your home?

When you meet people face-to-face you can get to know them better. If they are personable and come across as responsive and proactive then they are more likely to be able to build a better rapport with potential buyers as well! At the end of the day, you are trusting this person to facilitate one of the biggest transactions in your life, so they need to know what they are doing!

2.     Set the right price

Work with your estate agent to ensure that you give your home the right listing price. An agent over-promising with a high price may well end up prolonging the process, but a price too low could be doing your home a disservice. Ask the estate agent to provide evidence as to why they recommend a particular price and make sure you do your own research into house prices in the local area. 

3.     Get your documents ready

Buying and selling a home is a complicated process and there is a lot of paperwork to deal with. Set yourself up for success by making sure you have all your documentation organised. This could include:

·      HM Land Registry title documents

·      Energy Performance Certificates

·      Gas checks

·      Electrical checks

·      Planning permission 

·      Building regulation certificates

·      Builder’s guarantee certificates

4.     Declutter

There can be nothing more off-putting than walking into a home and finding it full of clutter. It can detract away from the assets of a home and make rooms seem much smaller than they actually are. 

Having a big clear-out before any house viewings can make a big difference, not to mention how free you will feel to be living without all that unnecessary stuff! 

5.     Dress to impress

Now, we’re not saying that your home has to be the pinnacle of Instagram perfection, but dressing each room so that it is visually appealing, neutral and bright can make all the difference in the race to sell your home. 

You can get some great pieces from places like IKEA or Home Style that are relatively cheap and will refresh any room so it’s more likely to get noticed. Remember – you are trying to show off your home’s best assets, so make every nook and cranny count.

6.     Get some great photographs

Once your home is decluttered and has been dressed in aesthetically appealing decoration and finishing touches, it’s time for the photoshoot!

This is another area in which an experienced estate agent can make a big difference as they will know how to take photos of a home in order to capture the best possible angle and light in each room. The very best estate agents may even have dedicated photographers who are specifically tasked with this job. Hopefully, they will know what type of photos will get the most attention in your area and will maximise this opportunity. 

When the photos are displayed on your listing, make sure that the best one is at the front to ensure people don’t walk – or scroll – past!

7.     Focus on the key rooms

The rooms that are often the key to selling any home are usually the kitchen and the bathroom. Making sure that they are clean and decluttered is the most important thing:

·      Hide away your toiletries in cupboards.

·      Keep the toilet seat down.

·      Open blinds/curtains and make sure the lights are on in photographs.

·      Make sure any glassware and countertops are shiny and smudge-free.

·      Put washing-up and laundry away.

·      Keep utensils and food away from the surfaces.

8.     Curb appeal

After everything we’ve said, you think that all the hard work starts once the potential buyer has opened the front door right? Wrong! They will be forming an impression of your home before they even step onto the doormat! 

Make sure any space you have in front of your house is tidy and well-maintained i.e., mow the lawn, pick up any litter and give your front door a spruce-up. First impressions count!

9.     Consider all the senses

This is definitely an important one! We’re not suggesting that you need to start baking cookies before each buyer visits your home, but a couple of plug-in air fresheners can do wonders. Air out each room and make sure there are no strong cooking or pet smells lingering anywhere – nothing can be more off-putting to a buyer than an odd smell.

10.  Choose the right buyer

Once you have done all these things, you should be lucky enough to secure an offer or two. It can be tempting to just say yes to the first offer that comes your way, or you may be tempted to start a bidding war but make sure you tread carefully at this point. The highest offer might not always be the right choice. Find out about their circumstances – have they got a long chain? How are they financing the purchase? Are they first-time buyers? Have they got a mortgage in principle?

Consider all these points carefully and listen to advice from your estate agent. 

We hope you have enjoyed Harvey Homes’ top ten tips on how to sell your home quickly, and as hassle-free as possible! We wish you luck in selling your home!