8 things you can do now to sell your home after lockdown

While the property market may be on hold, there are a few key things you can do now to help shift your home once restrictions are lifted

Spring is usually one of the most popular times to put homes on the market in the UK, however, the nationwide lockdown has thrown a pretty big spanner in the works.

With the government advising against any non-essential moves, the market is essentially frozen. According to Zoopla, 373,000 property transactions have been paused due to coronavirus, with a combined estimated value of £82 billion.

While your plans to move might be on hold for the time being, there’s plenty you can do now to get ahead of the game, according to JMP Solicitors.

The company has provided a handy list of eight things sellers should concentrate on to make sure they’re ready to go when the market reopens.

1. Research your local market

It's vital that you research house prices in your local area to work out what figure you might be able to sell for.

Rightmove’s database of sold prices by postcode is a good place to start – make sure you look at properties in your location with a similar number of bedrooms, plus equivalent square footage and outdoor space.

Many estate agents also now have valuation tools on their websites, some of which may include their own data from recently agreed sales, so these can be slightly more up-to-date than Rightmove figures.

Consider what homes in your area have sold for before settling on an asking price. Image: Alexey Fedorenko / Shutterstock

2. Choose your agent

Typically, sellers invite a few local estate agents to their property to get a feel for who's the best fit, but with social distancing guidelines, that’s not currently an option.

A good place to start in the meantime is to ask for recommendations from friends and family in your area. There are also a number of review sites online that can help you come up with a shortlist, including AllAgents and Feefo.

GetAgent.co.uk also provides data on which agents in your area have achieved the highest percentage of their asking prices, but you’ll have to sign up and part with some details to access it.

3. Choose a trusted legal partner

According to figures from property-buying company Quick Move Now, more than a quarter of house sales fell through in England and Wales last year.

One of the best ways to make sure yours doesn’t is to choose the right solicitor. Along with estate agents, conveyancing solicitors are vital in keeping sales moving in the right direction.

This is another area where personal recommendations are a good place to start, and a quick Google search for a solicitor will usually throw up some reviews too.

Be wary of low-priced online-only services – you get what you pay for and it’s not a bargain if slow service causes your sale to fall through.

4. Make a list of repairs

What you might think of as small problems can be real turn-offs to buyers. Loose doorknobs, dripping taps and flaking paintwork may be easy to fix but some buyers will see these as an indication of larger hidden issues.

If your home has flaking paintwork or peeling wallpaper, now's the time to redecorate. Image: ajlatan / Shutterstock

Take a critical look at your property and make a note of any simple home improvement projects or repairs that need carrying out. A number of DIY stores are offering delivery, while some have even reopened, so it should be easier to get your hands on supplies than it was a couple of weeks ago.

5. Deep clean your home

To consider purchasing a property, buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living there, and dust, dirt and unpleasant smells can prove hard to look past.

Give your interior a deep clean and tackle the dirtiest places in your home to make the best first impression when viewings start.

You could also research cleaning companies that can be called in as soon as lockdown ends to get your home in tip-top shape.

6. Declutter

For many buyers, it's tricky to see beyond clutter too. Even if you don’t want to go full-on Marie Kondo, a thorough declutter can completely transform your home.

Consider storing some of your personal items out of sight so viewers will be able to visualise themselves in your space, instead of staring at your family snaps on every wall.

7. Let there be light

If you look at properties listed for sale online, you’ll probably notice that in many cases, all of the lights are turned on. It's something that's often true when it comes to physical viewings too.

A well-lit interior can create a homely first impression. Image: Breadmaker / Shutterstock

A tried and tested selling tactic, a glowing home with stylish lighting exudes a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Stock up on spare bulbs for all of your light fittings so a dark wall won't deter any potential buyers.

8. Stage your home

According to research carried out by the Home Staging Association UK & Ireland last year, 85% of the agents, developers and property managers surveyed said that staged properties sold three times faster than non-staged properties.

It's relatively easy to do too. Invest some time into tidying up the entrance of your property, from adding kerb appeal to the front garden to dressing the hallway table with fresh flowers.

Be sure to accessorise each room with inviting touches, including throws, cushions and a few carefully placed houseplants. Homely scents such as freshly baked bread or brewed coffee can work wonders too.

Image: Willy Barton / Shutterstock