It’s no secret that selling your home can be a real slog – it can take months, or even years, to find the right buyer. We’ve brought together top advice and tactics from estate agents and property industry insiders to help you get your home off the market as quickly as possible, at the best possible price.

While they say never judge a book by its cover, in this instance first impressions DO count.

Graham Paterson, CEO of property portal Jitty says that increasingly buyers are looking for aesthetically-pleasing, well-maintained properties: “Simple touches, such as fresh paintwork, tidy gardens, and a clean exterior, can create a desirable, aspirational image, and inspire confidence,” he says.

And it's not just the outside that needs to appeal to potential buyers. You may not want to spend time decorating a house you no longer want to live in, but it will make a significant difference to the way others perceive it.

Andy Simms, renovation expert from MyBuilder.com, says that though it can be easy to neglect paintwork and flaking woodwork, it doesn't take long to remedy.

The great news is that many of these things are quick and simple fixes that can be done yourself, or with a quick visit from a tradesperson. It’s well worth the investment if it results in a quick and profitable sale of your home.”

 

While selling properties at auction may traditionally have been the preserve of landlords who wanted to get their house sold quickly, with more concern for speed that getting the right price, property expert Phil Spencer, and founder of the property advice website Move IQ says that's no longer the case.   

He cites the Modern Method of Auction approach as an example of how far we've come and a less stressful alternative:  

“The MMA is an online auction process, much like eBay, in which the home is advertised over an extended period – typically 30 days or so – and prospective buyers can place a bid at any point in that time.

“This is more gentle and familiar than the adrenaline-fuelled experience of a traditional auction, which takes place at a set time and ends with the winning bidder signing a contract, and paying an immediate, non-refundable deposit of 10% to secure the property."

And whether you are selling at auction or by taking the more traditional route, all homeowners know that you don't want to give solictors any excuse to slow down the process. 

To this end, make sure you have what those in the industtry call 'Material Information' ready to show buyers from the off. This includes things like your home's council tax band and any relevant leasehold info, but it can also be details on any new flight paths planned for your area and any issues with crime or neighbour disputes. 

Jamie Cooke, Managing Director at iamsold, says:  "If there are gaps in the Material Information provided, this can unfortunately result in sales slowing down or even falling through as new information is uncovered during the process."

Hosting an open house can expose your property to a large pool of potential buyers at once, but Mishantha Liyanage of property investment company Mistoria Group says it's crucial you select the right estate agent to partner with to ensure the best calibre of potential buyers.

"Aim to partner with a knowledgeable real estate agent who has a strong track record of selling properties quickly in your area," he advises. 

As you prepare to put your home on the market, think about things that might prevent the sale from falling through further down the line, such as how invested the buyer is.

Lorna du Sautoy, Partner at the property law firm Broadfield says these things should go beyond whether or not they can afford the property: "Consider the motivation of prospective buyers and the reasons why they may be interested in your property," she says.

"A buyer who believes that they have found their ‘forever home’ is much more focused than a developer who is simply looking for a new project."

Interior designer, Ann Marie Cousins, owner of AMC Design, says that a cluttered house is not only distracting to viewers, but may also highlight some of the pitfalls in your home.

"It plants seeds of doubt in buyers’ minds about a lack of storage. A tidy home portrays a calm and organised setting, which is exactly what you want to be shown when people walk through the door," she says.

"Try and encourage your whole family to get on board with the de-clutter plan by each selecting three things you wish to keep in each room, the rest needs to be stored away for viewing days."

While it’s important to make sure your house is spacious and lacks clutter, it’s also important not to completely depersonalise it. 

Anne Marie says: “Prospective buyers want to see your home and will appreciate a well loved and cared-for space. I often see houses for sale which have been so stripped back, they lose the personality of the property all together. Be aware of a good balance as people want to see an authentic home."

 

Another great idea for opening up a room and creating the illusion of space. A large wall mirror makes any room look instantly bigger and brings in much more light. According to Zoopla, for optimum effect you should position mirrors opposite windows.

A dirty house isn't a welcoming sight, and it certainly won't help prospective buyers envisage themselves living there. Rid your home of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax the floors and dust the skirting boards. Your home should be ship-shape before any viewers cross the threshold.

A homeowner can spend thousands making over their kitchen before their property hits the market but it's not always money well spent. There's no guarantee that the kitchen design you opt for will be the buyer’s cup of tea – that shiny new kitchen could well be ripped out once the sale goes through.

While a large, bright kitchen can sell a house, it’s not worth renovating it before a sale and in the time spent finding a tradesman to complete the work, your property could’ve already been on the market.

Remember, you're not just selling a home, you're selling a lifestyle, so take the time to perfect the details. Lay the table with your best crockery and glasses, and some candles. Potential buyers need to be able to see themselves living in your home.

In the same way a hanging basket touches up the entrance to the house, fresh flowers on the table will brighten up the rest of your home. Keep them simple and colourful – don’t go overboard as it won’t look natural.

While double glazing is appealing to buyers, single-glazed windows are fine as long as they look like they’re in a decent condition. If windows aren’t painted properly and are flaking, people will immediately think they are an extra expense.

Andy Simms says: "Tired looking window frames can betray a general lack of care for your home, and be quite off putting, while rotting sealant on UPVC can cause condensation or invite mould."

Unless a buyer is looking for a bargain to renovate, a house can easily lose appeal if the list of extra expenses is long. If there’s any damage to the walls, make sure you repair it, or perhaps you could leave behind your old white goods for the new homeowner. Try to remove as many extra expenses as possible so you can also remove any doubts from your buyers' minds.

Though they can often become your home's dumping ground, a garage has the potential to be converted into another room. There's no need to actually complete the conversion yourself before you sell, simply clearing the garage out and keeping it car-free (as long as you have a drive) to show what space is available for a potential garage conversion can help potential buyers visualise it.

If your viewing is on a cold evening, put on the fire or switch on some mood lighting. Ambience creates a much homelier setting and when it’s dark outside a fire or a low lamp will make the house feel a lot cosier than having all of the main lights on.

Nobody wants to walk into a house with bad smells. Don’t just cover them up, though. Find the root cause of the problem: clean bins and clear drains if there are any funky smells coming from them. Air fresheners might smell nice, but they won’t get rid of the odour all together.

Conversely, adding nice smells can make a property feel like home. While baking bread every time you have a viewing might be a tad excessive, you could light a scented candle or perhaps brew some fresh coffee.

Interiors expert Liv Conlon, who stages hundreds of houses each year through her business ThePropertyStagers says that if an item can be used, it shouldn’t make the surface. "For example, all coffee tables, console tables and kitchen worktops should be styled, not cluttered with day-to-day items especially when you have people viewing your home," she says.

"Carefully select and place accessories that enhance the style and ambiance of your home. Remove clutter and items that are not aesthetically pleasing, and focus on showcasing a curated collection of decor pieces that complement the overall design scheme."

Pruning hedges and tidying up the lawn can go a long way to making your home more sellable. 

Add a table and chairs so buyers can really imagine kicking back and unwinding in the sun or enjoying evenings outdoors. According to sold.co.uk, an attractive garden can add 20% to your home's value, so a garden revamp is worth thinking about.

It's the little things that matter and seeing limp bobbled cushions won't create the lustworthy appeal you're going for.

Liv Conlon says instead they leave a home looking tired, and not looked after properly, so suggests updating any that are past their best: "Choose fabrics and textures that complement the overall aesthetic of the space and enhance its appeal.

"The rule with soft furnishings is to use them in pairs of two or three and vary them in size. Add synthetic feather inserts to achieve our signature cushion chop. If you want to add value to your home, it’s all about creating a luxurious vibe!"

Some home hunters can be turned off by a lack of parking.

If you have a large garden at the front of your house, consider converting some of it into a driveway. With the average gravel drive conversion costing £3,000 ($3,800), according to Checkatrade, it could up your property's price tag and help it get snapped up sooner.

As much as you love your cat or dog, not everybody will feel the same way. If a potential buyer is scared of dogs, being greeted at the door with loud barking and the smell of wet dog isn’t going to make the house seem very enticing – ask your neighbour to keep an eye on it for the time being.

While making your house look good will go a long way, it’s also important to be flexible with timings. The more viewings you have, the more chance you have of a quicker sale. Be flexible with when people can come over, even if that does mean an evening viewing after a long day at work. It will be worth it in the long run.

Decluttering is easier when you’ve already started packing up. Start putting things in boxes and store them in the attic or at your neighbour’s house if need be. This will free up space, keep things minimalistic and speed up your moving process too.

People viewing your property will want to see that areas are lived in, and what they’re capable of being used for. Turn a neglected spare room into a study for the time being, an empty dining room into a second living room. or even a spare room into a workout area or relaxation room to really show off your home's potential.

When someone buys a new home they are also buying into the location, so it's important to really highlight the selling points of your local area. Is there an attractive high street with independent shops nearby? Or are you in the catchment for some sought after schools? Don't be afraid to shout about these aspects, if so.

When it comes to settling on an asking price, don't push your luck too much. Decide on a realistic figure based on the valuation given to you by your agent. If the price is too high, you're unlikely to get many viewings, and chances are, you'll have to make reductions in the future anyway.

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