Selling a house can often feel daunting and stressful. However, with a little prep work and a helpful Estate Agents, the process can be made a lot simpler. Here are some top tips from Swansea’s expert Estate Agents on how to get your house ready to sell.
Working with the right Estate Agents
Work with your Estate Agent and make them work for you. Here at Belvoir, we believe every seller and their home are unique. Tell us exactly made you fall in love with your home and what you enjoy most about it now. We’ll highlight this information when we start marketing your home to like-minded buyers.
Make sure your agent is aware of your situation, too. If you are just testing the water and aren’t 100% committed to moving, let them know. Likewise, if you can’t move for six months, or, if you need to move quickly, tell your Estate Agent and they may be able to regulate the pace of the sale. Your agent knows the local market and has your interests at heart. Discuss everything with them and always ask for their advice and guidance.
Money matters
Settling a house on an asking price is one of the biggest decisions during the selling process.
Invite a selection of local Estate Agents to come in and value your property but don’t just go with the agent that provides the highest appraisal and/or the lowest fee. An over-inflated asking price can really inhibit the speed of the sale. On the other hand, a low agent fee may result in mediocre service. Do your own research on the Land Registry website and find out the selling price of similar properties in your local area. If an agent gives you a much higher valuation than the others, ask them to provide examples of comparable property sales.
Prepare your home
When selling a house, there’s no avoiding those little DIY jobs. Take some time to fix the loose floorboards, finish paint jobs, nail down the squeaking floorboards and fit the skirting board. Small details matter and make a huge difference during the house selling process.
Once that’s done, have a good clear out. Get rid of any clutter and thin out your personal items, like bulky ornaments, family photographs, paperwork and toys. This gives buyers the space to visualise themselves living in your house.
Before the viewings begin, make sure your home is sparkling clean from top to bottom, especially the kitchen and bathroom. If it’s needed, have the carpets professionally shampooed, particularly if you have pets. Improve your home’s kerb appeal, too. Paint the front door, polish up the brass (if you have any) and sweep away any leaves from the front of the house. Mow the lawn and make sure your garden looks neat and tidy. You could even show how particular areas can be used for al fresco dining with strategically placed garden furniture.
Line up your Solicitor and organise your paperwork
Instruct a solicitor, who has conveyancing experience, from the outset so that you are ready for action. Waiting until you have accepted an offer can delay the process unnecessarily.
Make sure all of your paperwork is in order as this can really speed things up. So, if your property is leasehold, make sure you have the papers ready to pass on to your Solicitor. Likewise, obtain any planning or building consent well in advance – this can help clinch a sale. Your Estate Agent and Solicitor will advise you on the type of paperwork you need to gather. In addition, by law, you will need to commission an EPC (energy performance certificate) for your property. Your Estate Agent can help you to organise this. You won’t be able to market the property without one, so aim to get this sorted as soon as possible.
When the house viewing starts
It is usually best to let your Estate Agent show the viewers around whilst you pop out. House viewers are likely to feel more comfortable if you’re not there. This means they can have an open discussion about your house without fear of causing offence. They’ll also be able to take their time imagining how your home could soon become their home.
It’s a tricky one but try and work around viewings. It really helps if potential house buyers are able to view your home at a time that suits them. If not, there’s the risk they’ll see another property and forget yours.
If you have tenants in the property, give them plenty of notice about your plans and keep things friendly. That way, they’re more likely to keep the place looking tidy and accommodate viewings.
If at all possible, pack your pets off for a day trip to the neighbours or in-laws. You really never can tell when the dog is going to show you up!
Another nice touch is to leave some free parking space for the viewers. Something as simple as easy parking will help to ensure they enter your home in a good frame of mind. Avoid strong cooking smells and don’t smoke in the house in the run up to viewings too. Open windows and place a few bunches of fresh flowers around the house to brighten things up and add a pop of colour. Demonstrate that you care about what the buyer thinks and take pride in the appearance and upkeep of the property.
After the house viewing
Always take feedback on board. If all feedback from viewings points towards a particular issue, it gives you the opportunity to rectify the issue.
So, whether you have already made the decision to sell or you are interested in getting a free property valuation before making your decision, contact our Swansea Estate Agents using the details below. One of our team will be happy to help.
