I'm a big believer in the saying that first impressions count – even more so when it comes to selling a house. And, while most people understand the value in making a home look presentable for a buyer, I believe the process starts way earlier than that.
For me, when I'm selling a property, the work starts before I even invite estate agents in to value my home. They may well be trained to look beyond the superficial vision, but like the rest of us, they will instinctively make an initial judgement based on what they see in front of them.
The worse your home looks, subconsciously they'll be thinking about how hard it will be for them to persuade someone to buy the house. I've bought, sold and rented over 20 properties, and worked as a home stager for an estate agent, so trust me when I say these are the 6 things you need to do before you get your home valued.
Article continues below1. Declutter as if you have already sold your home
It may seem like you're jumping the gun, but there really is value in decluttering your home before you get it valued. You may find once you've done this, you have more room than you realised and don't need to sell after all. Or at least that's what I've heard. It's never personally been the case for me, but I live in hope!
When decluttering for a sale I'll admit to being ruthless. You may well be moving to a bigger home, but as we all know, space is easy to fill and harder to create. If you find yourself taking everything you own, the chances are you'll need even more space sooner than you think.
I tend to approach a moving declutter with a 'use it or lose it' approach. If it has happily sat in a cupboard, loft storage or a garage for months, and you haven't used it, or even thought about using it, you probably won't use it when you move either.
Start from the top to bottom of your home, and make sure you have plenty of spare boxes and bags to sort the items you no longer need. I sort with a three-pronged approach.
- A to sell pile for items that are in a good enough condition to be sold
- A to donate pile for items that may better be used by family, friends or given to charity
- A rubbish pile for belongings that are past their best and hold no sentimental, monetary or value.
Need an incentive to get this first job done? If you're investigating skip costs, make sure you book one with a fixed start and end date so that you have to get the job done. Personally I've pre-booked some slots at the tip over the coming weekends which I'll feel obliged to use, and of course, booking a date for the valuations gives you a clear line in the sand that you'll want to avoid crossing.
The benefits of a declutter now? It could help solve any issues with damp, you'll enjoy more space while you wait to sell, you'll have a much clearer picture about how much storage you'll need in your new home, and it will be far easier to prep your home for future viewings.
It will also help you start to break the emotional attachment you have with your home. Once it starts to look less like yours, the easier it is to accept moving on.
Shop for storage bags and boxes
Perfect for underbed storage, these bags have a clear section so you can still easily see what's inside
For items you want to keep, but need a home for, affordable ottoman storage benches can work well in most rooms
2. De-personalise when you declutter
Any good estate agent or home stager should make sure personal photos are removed when photographing a property. It's good practise for security reasons, but I choose to do it sooner.
Viewers trying to imagine themselves living in your home, can find it hard to do so if they are surrounded by images of other people. Social media is proof that we all love to look at other people's lives, and you don't want your family holiday pics to become the focus of a viewing.
I only have a few personal photos on display in frames that aren't hung on a wall, so they are easy to pop inside a cupboard.
But, if depersonalising means you will be left with lots of blank spaces on walls, hidden damage or potential holes to fill, you do have options. While I'll discuss painting next, there are some other alternatives. One is to see if you have items for other rooms that can be moved into the spaces instead (you may even have discovered some when decluttering).
Another option, and one I always do when selling a home, is to allow myself a 'DIY staging budget'. Even if you aren't calling in the professionals to dress your home, putting some money aside for some new home decor can be beneficial.
Buy sensibly, choose items that are relatively neutral and ones you are happy to take with you when you move, but don't buy expensive furniture or decor. It might look good in this home, but not in the next, so don't waste your money.
Shop for affordable artwork
This pack of unframed prints allows you to replace family photos with buyer-friendly artwork that won't distract
In a more traditional setting this pack of three William Morris classic designs will grace your walls perfectly
3. Dig out your spare paint and make your walls look great again
Right now, I have a decorator in my flat giving some walls a long over-due refresh. It's more of a drastic measure than you might need to take, but as the walls in question are in key viewing areas, it's worth the investment.
The colour I've chosen? I haven't. It's not going to be my home, so while I'd love to invest in some hallway panelling or create a feature wall in the bedroom, it's not worth the risk of alienating a buyer.
Instead, all of the walls have been coated in matt white. I've used Leyland's Trade Contract Brilliant White Matt Emulsion Paint from Screwfix, but Laura Crombie, Homebuilding & Renovating's Content Director swears by Tikkurlia Anti-Flex 2 Paint when decorating her walls.
I appreciate white may feel bland, but selling your home is easier if you've stripped it of your identity. Starting with a neutral colour leaves viewers far more able to visualise the colours they like in place of it. You've decided your home isn't suitable for you anymore, so why dress it like it is?
Hopefully, you might find yourself just needed to touch up marks rather than repainting. If so, I find these Magic Erasers from Amazon are handy to have. But, Ialso choose white when selling, as if marks do happen in between viewings it's far easier to cover them up, than trying to match colours.
When you do move and redecorate, I also suggest you stock up on some paint pens like the ones shown below. While spare, half-filled tins of paint are handy for larger jobs, small touch ups are far easier to do with a pen.
These reusable wall paint repair brushes offer a mess-free, precise application way of touching up marks on walls and furniture and are an essential part of your decorating tool kit.
4. Clean like spring has sprung
If you've decluttered, depersonalised and your walls are looking fresh again, next on the list is what you might traditionally refer to as a spring clean. Don't leave it until the first viewing, do it now. You'll thank yourself in the long run when you have a last minute viewing and your home just needs a good clean, rather than a deep clean.
An estate agent who walks into a well-cleaned property is also going to feel more confident that when it comes to viewings, they will have a polished product to sell, rather than one that's a bit tired and dirty around the edges.
Dirt dates and dulls your home and its value. Your home needs to shine, so show the estate agent what your home is capable of, rather than expecting them to use their imagination. Everyone in this is looking for a sale – them and you included, so making their job easier will always benefit you.
Need some cleaning tips? Make sure you check out our two step guide to cleaning a shower screen, and for a squeaky clean finish across your home, I can't recommend the Beldray 15-in-1 steam cleaner enough. It got rid of stains and marks in a bathroom that I thought were never going to shift.
5. Dress your home like it's a show home
The last job I do inside a property before a valuation is give my home a show home makeover. If you own a property that will attract a higher asking price, I'd certainly recommend considering hiring a professional home stager. They are skilled in presenting your home in the best possible light. If you need to rent extra furniture or decor they will be able to source this, and most will offer varying levels of service depending on your needs.
But, if this isn't within your budget or your home doesn't need it, it doesn't mean you can't employ a few show home tricks yourself. Don't be afraid to move items around, try furniture in new places and imagine how you would sell your home if you were the estate agent.
If your spare bedroom was a dumping ground for example, but has suddenly become clear after decluttering, could you find a cheap desk, chair and stage it as a home office? Rooms don't have to be filled with every item they could include, a suggestion is often enough to create a photo opportunity for the sales details, and give viewers an idea.
When prepping homes for photography, I'd often switch around decor and furniture, and on so many occasions the homeowners left the new layout and style in place, even after we'd left. Often a fresh pair of eyes can see opportunity where you just see problems, so try to imagine what would make you buy your home all over again.
6. Don't forget to check the exterior of your home
And last, but absolutely not least, while I don't currently have a front garden or driveway, it's also vital that you check the kerb appeal of your home is up to scratch before you book a valuation. Having an immaculate interior means nothing if the first view is of a rundown exterior. I'm having my front door sanded and varnished for that reason.
It's also one area that homeowners said would put them off buying a house in a survey conducted by The Bespoke Sign House. But, as with the interior work, it's not about paying for major upgrades, but rather small improvements that make all the difference.
According to the research, the most common upgrades homeowners said they made before listing include:
- Garden and landscaping improvements – 58%
- Exterior paintwork – 50%
- Driveway or parking improvements – 30%
- Front door upgrades or repainting – 25%
- Outdoor lighting – 25%
Estate agents also tend to recommend similar changes, and Chris Webb, founder of The Estate Agent Consultancy, explains why.
“Most people arrive early for a viewing and sit in the car for five or ten minutes beforehand. All they’ve got to look at is the outside of the property, so that moment shapes their expectations before they’ve even stepped through the door. If they see peeling paint, damaged gutters or an untidy garden, buyers assume the same lack of care continues inside.”
That perception can quickly translate into lower offers, even when the underlying problem is relatively inexpensive to fix.
Kristian Goodenough, co-founder of The Bespoke Sign House, adds how that first impression could also lead to better offers.
“Buyers don’t walk up to a property analysing all the details, but they do react to how it feels. Small fixes like tidy gardens, repaired guttering and fresh paint send a signal that the home has been well looked after. Those visual cues build confidence, and confident buyers are far less likely to start negotiating the price down.”
Not sure if you can complete the work yourself or need an expert? Before you start take advice on the four spring maintenance tasks you should leave to the professionals.
Ready to invite the estate agents in? If so, then make sure you treat it like it's a viewing. Ensure your home is still clean, including the windows and make sure there's plenty of natural light flooding in. If it's a darker day, don't be afraid to turn on lamps and ceiling lights. Nobody wants to be peering into dark corners of a room as it will make it seem smaller.
I always say fresh flowers are a must, but don't over scent with too many candles and diffusers. It can make it look like you're trying to hide an unpleasant odour such as damp or mould. Keep any pet areas clean, and while I don't go to the extent of baking cakes or brewing fresh coffee, there's no harm in doing so if you want to.
Don't worry if you feel it no longer looks or feels like your home, that's your goal. After all, you've got the exciting prospect of buying a new home to look forward to.
Good luck in your venture, and if it's been a while since you bought and sold a property, check out the house buying mistakes to avoid. Or, if you're selling because you're about to venture into the world of self build, find out what to ask before buying a plot.
