Before finding your ideal home and planning your move, there’s a few loose ends to tie up first- usually the biggest one being selling your current home. Now, although this isn’t nearly as exciting as planning out your new home and checking out locations, none the less it’s a vital first step. There is a number of pitfalls along the way that could take away from your chances of getting the right price, or even selling your home at all.
With that in mind, we’ve spoken with a team of experts to let you know the key mistakes to avoid whilst selling your home:
Don’t forget the driveway
Vaughan Schofield, Owner at Belvoir Wrexham, says: “I firmly believe that a viewer will make their minds up about whether the property is potentially the “one” within the first 20 to 30 seconds of the viewing. With this in mind, the front driveway, condition of the garden, external paint work and condition of the front door are far more important than many people realise – in some instances you might have lost your prospective buyer before they are even inside the property.”
Hannah Towers, Partner at Armitstead Barnett in Lancashire agrees, adding: “First impressions really do count. Some healthy spring plants, a clean-up of your front lawn, and clean drive and exterior will go a long way to helping viewers visualise your property as their dream home.”
Don’t think of it as a sales transaction
Lee Koffman, Director & Head of Residential Sales at Robert Irving Burns in London, says: “It might sound obvious, but people are looking for a home, not a business or just a ‘property’, so make sure it doesn’t just feel like a transaction. Having the heating on from the entrance hall and throughout the house for example can all help potential buyers imagine living in a new home they can settle down in. There’s nothing worse than opening the door to a cold home.”
Don’t cut corners on decluttering
Lee Koffman, Director & Head of Residential Sales at Robert Irving Burns in London, says: “Invest in some temporary storage and make sure the home is clear and tidy for viewings – you want potential buyers to focus on the home and space, not your mess. Also, make sure to decorate the home in line with the season, to help potential buyers to visualise themselves living there. Carrying out viewings in the spring or summer? Buyers are going to pay extra attention to any outdoor space you have, so make sure the garden is presentable.”
Hannah Towers, Partner at Armitstead Barnett in Lancashire says: “People want to see the bones of the property. Make sure everything is hidden away when the photographers come – not only will viewers see your home as close to a blank canvas as possible, but it will also make the space look bigger.”
Don’t overhaul the home, but do fix issues
Lee Koffman, Director & Head of Residential Sales at Robert Irving Burns in London, says: “If there’s something simple that could do with fixing or updating, I’ll often ask the seller to do this before we take the photos and host viewings. It might be a minor issue – but potential buyers can get transfixed on a particular detail, and it can sabotage a sale. Don’t risk potentially losing thousands off the asking price, because you didn’t do a hundred pounds worth of repairs.”
Donald Young, Consultant at James Agent in the Scottish Borders, says: “By all means, if something needs replacing, do that. But please don’t spend loads of money on an expensive new kitchen or bathroom fittings just before selling. The purchaser may end up changing them anyway, and it may not add much to the final price.”
