How to prepare to sell or let your property

If you’re preparing to sell or let your property, it’s worth investing some time and money into sprucing up your home to make the best first impression. Simple steps like making basic repairs, cleaning, tidying and adding thoughtful features can make all the difference to the space.

Here are our top 6 tips to help you prepare to sell or let your property - and get the maximum bang for your buck.

First impressions are important

You only get one chance to make a first impression so our top tip is to do everything you can to wow your viewers before they even get in the door. Most buyers and renters tend to make instant judgments about a property, so pay attention to the first impression you’re giving your visitors.

To help get viewings off to a good start, do some basic maintenance including:

Mowing the lawn
Sweeping pathways
Cleaning windows
Repainting the front door (if needed)
Getting a new doormat
Clearing the doorstep and entranceway of clutter

Many people will drive past a property before going to view it, so try to stay on top of the upkeep even on days when you don’t have viewings. If you’re preparing to sell or let your property during the autumn and winter, use lighting to help your home look cosy and homely after dark.

These small tweaks can make a huge difference to your potential buyers or renters. Make sure the first impression is a good one!

Give your space a spring clean

Don’t underestimate the effects of a spring clean on your space. Cleaning, tidying and decluttering your home helps to show it off in the best light and makes it easier for buyers and renters to imagine themselves living there - without all the mess!

Here are some spring cleaning tasks to remember:

Tidy away clothes, toys, magazines, unnecessary crockery and more
Donate unwanted things to charity
Get your carpets professionally cleaned
Vacuum and mop floors
Keep windows clean inside and out
Scrub bathrooms and grouting
Deep clean appliances
Put away boots and coats from front entrances

You can do many of these tasks yourself or hire professional cleaners to deep clean your space and leave it looking spic and span!

Top tip: You won’t always have time to get your home ready before viewings so try to make tidying and cleaning a routine while you’re trying to sell or let your home. If you can make it a daily habit of putting things away, cleaning surfaces, and vacuuming, you won’t have to stress when surprise viewings pop up!

Do simple repairs

We all have a list of home repairs that we haven’t got around to doing yet - but if you’re preparing to sell or let your property, now is the time to do them! Schedule time to do simple repairs throughout your home to help make it look neater, newer, and more appealing to buyers and letters.

Simple repairs might include fixing:

Dripping taps
Leaking gutters
Squeaky hinges
Broken drawers
Faulty lights or missing light bulbs

Go through your home with a fine tooth-comb and make a list of all the small repairs that need to be done, then work through them one-by-one or hire a professional to help.

The kitchen counts

The kitchen is the heart of the home and for many properties, it can make or break a sale. When you’re preparing to sell or let your property, make the kitchen one of your top priorities to help transform it into a warm, inviting space.

Depending on the age and quality of your kitchen, that might be as simple as cleaning and tidying the space or it could mean replacing cupboards and floors as needed. Simply painting tired cupboards with a new lick of paint can make a huge difference to the overall impression of the space.

If in doubt, contact us for personalised advice on the best ways to improve your kitchen to maximise your sale or letting prospects.

Don’t forget the garden

Your garden is often the first thing that buyers and renters see, so don’t forget to give it some love before your viewings! Even a quick clean up can turn a wilderness into a garden wonderland.

Here are a few ideas to help smarten up your garden:

Use hanging baskets and bedding plants to add colour
Weed and powerwash pathways and patios
Deadhead flowers for neatness and to get more flowers
Mow the lawn and trim hedges
Consider adding new garden furniture
Screen off unattractive areas like bins and oil tanks

Give your garden some TLC to make sure buyers and renters see it at its best. Your garden is a major asset, so make it work for you!

Use flexible improvements

While home improvements are usually an investment you make in your property before selling or letting, there are also a wide range of flexible improvements you can add - and then take with you when you move.

Flexible improvements can maximise the attractiveness of your home, helping to give it an extra boost for a fraction of the cost of permanent improvements.

Here are a few ideas for effective additions to turn your house into a home:

Use rugs to improve your floor without buying new carpets
Add free standing cupboards and shelves for extra storage
Replace tired bedsheets with new sheets, rugs and throw pillows
Use plant pots instead of flowerbeds

All these ideas can help to elevate your home, while also being flexible and moveable so you can enjoy them at your new property too!

Give yourself the best chance to sell or let your property

If you’re looking to sell or let your property, these simple steps can make all the difference to prospective buyers. By investing some energy into improving your property before you let or sell, you can maximise the chance of making a great first impression and increase the value of your property.

For more tips and personalised advice on how to prepare your property for sale or for let, get in touch