What To Expect When Selling Your Home

If you have decided that the time is right to sell your home then there are some important things you must do before you install that for sale sign. It is not as simple as just listing your home for sale, you need to make sure it is in a fit state before you allow potential buyers through the door. 

You may have seen similar listings online, make sure you do your research before officially deciding to sell your property. Make sure it is the right time of year, for example summer tends to be the time when buyers come out in full force to look for a new place to call home. Check out the article below to see how you can prepare for the sale and what else you can expect from selling your home. 

Declutter

One of the very first things you need to do when it comes to selling your home is declutter. Over the years your home may have become a dumping ground for both useless and useful items. Decluttering not only frees up your home but your mind as well, having a decent decluttering session can create a zen like feeling. If you haven’t decluttered in a long time then it could take some time. There is no rush, don’t feel pressured into doing it all in one day. You can tackle each room one at a time and feel the sense of achievement when you have done it. A great tip to remember is, sort your belongings into four piles. These consist of stuff you want to keep, throw away, donate, and sell. You may as well make some money from your unwanted items, online marketplaces will get you some extra cash. 

Estate Agent

When the time comes to list your property you need to know who you are selling it with. You don’t have to use an estate agent at all, you could sell privately but this is more risky. An estate agent will have the experience and knowledge needed to sell a house effectively and efficiently for the best price. They will also give you advice on how to get a higher asking price, for example, amazing staging. Do your research and find one that suits you and your home, you don’t want to find one to sell a family home if they have only sold 1 bedroom apartments. Check their fees along with the terms and conditions, you don’t want to be met with a hefty fine later down the line. 

Garden

If you have sorted the interior of your property then you also need to head outside. If you are lucky enough to have a garden then you should be looking after it and maintaining it properly. If you find your garden to be in a bit of a state then this won’t take long to sort out. Mow the grass, trim the edges, and cut back any dead flowers. You might also want to plant some new flowers that can grow and blossom for your new owners. Planting tulip bulbs or other similar flowers will pop up next summer and give them a lovely treat. If you are not particularly green fingered then you may want to contact a landscaper who will come in and get your garden ready for potential buyers to admire. A nice garden is a big selling point for buyers, so make sure yours looks lovely and welcoming.

Repairs

Something to bear in mind is that not many people are interested in buying fixer-uppers. You should carry out all repairs before you open your home up to viewers. This could be simple fixes such as paint chipping away at the wall or bigger issues such as the roof leaking. Whatever repairs need doing it is much better for you to get it done sooner rather than later, as then the buyers can’t knock any money off the asking price. If your home has seen better days then it might be worth running a fresh coat of paint throughout. Paint is much easier than wallpaper as you can just go over it when needed. 

Cleaning 

Nobody wants to invest in a dirty home, if your house is dirty and grimy then nobody will want to put an offer in. When you declutter your home, it might be wise to clean it at the same time. This way you don’t forget to do it. It’s okay having a mad dash around with the hoover when you have a viewing but you don’t want to be doing a full house clean just before they turn up. Get organised and decide how you are going to clean your home. This could be all at once, with all hands on deck, or individual rooms one at a time. You could also make use of a professional cleaning team to help you get ahead of the game. Once they have left your home sparkling you will just need to keep on top of it and not get it dirty again before it sells. 

Professional Stager

Once you have done everything within your home that you possibly can, this involves decluttering, cleaning and repairs then it is time to stage your home. This makes it look impeccable for photographs that will be used to advertise your home. You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional. If you don’t want to do it yourself or you have no idea where to begin then your estate agent may know someone who can help you. They stage it and then the photographer comes in to take the photos. When working with a real estate photography company or freelance photographer, it’s important to remember that their job is to put your home in the right light, which may very well mean that you should expect to make some last-second changes to the layout of your furniture. Remember, if you find this stage frustrating, particularly if you haven’t hired a professional stager, then it’s short-term frustration for long-term gain!

Pre-Sale Inspection 

It is always a great idea to carry out a pre-sale inspection on any property you are selling. This will give everyone involved a rough idea of what needs repairing or what the new buyers will be dealing with if they take on your property. If you have had a long list of repairs that you haven’t gotten around to then now is the time. You don’t want to leave a fixer-upper for people to buy as many aren’t interested. They want move-in ready homes that don’t require much work, if any. A full survey will also be carried out when buyers put an offer in for your property. 

Disappointment 

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have upgraded your home, spending quite a bit of money then you may not make this back. A lot of people assume that the money they pay for something like a conservatory or loft conversion will give them a return on their sale price. While this does happen and the price does rise, it won’t be as much as you paid. For example, a loft conversion will only add 25% to the asking price so be careful how much you are paying out. 

Find Your Place

Finally, it is essential that when you decide to sell up that you find another place to live. When you sell your home you will enter into a chain with your buyers. So they won’t be able to move in until you have moved out. Ensure you keep everyone updated with how your move is going so the new buyers will also know roughly when they can get their belongings into your home. If you use the same estate agent who is selling your home to buy a new place then it should be pretty straight forward.  

See some more home-related posts here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.