According to research by Zoopla, selling a property can take anywhere between four to eight months. To reduce this timeline, though, people can stage their homes and entice potential buyers with several strategic steps.
House buying experts housebuyers4u have shared eight insider tricks for leaving a lasting impression during viewings, including maximising natural light, neutralising odours, and more.
1. Remember to utilise natural light to your advantage
There’s no denying that the atmosphere is everything when selling a property. According to experts at housebuyers4u, buyers are specifically drawn to bright and inviting homes. Therefore, sellers should use natural light to their advantage.
Natural light can be emphasised by cleaning all windows. Not only do dust, dirt, and smudges significantly reduce the amount of sunlight that enters a room, but clean windows are also one of the best ways to ensure the space looks well-maintained. To go one step further, ensure all curtains are open, and blinds are up all day long.
Additionally, mirrors can play a massive role in making a home seem brighter and more inviting as they reflect light. As such, they will prove helpful when placed in typically darker areas of the house, including corners of rooms, poorly lit corridors, and rooms with smaller windows.
2. Neutralise odours and appeal to their sense of smell
First impressions count. When selling a home, it’s essential to consider the first things people will think about when they walk into a space. This includes their sense of smell, as smell can trigger memories, encourage emotion, and change moods.
Therefore, unpleasant odours can be an instant deal-breaker. Sellers should try to remove any lingering smells before a viewing, such as cigarette smoke and this morning’s eggs and bacon, by opening windows to air out the rooms and using air fresheners.
In addition to lighting scented candles and washing linens, housebuyers4u recommends baking bread, cookies, or cakes to create a welcoming atmosphere. The all-encompassing smell of indulgent treats like these is destined to entice any viewer who walks through the door.
3. Don’t forget to spruce up any outdoor areas
Let’s get one thing straight: selling a house is stressful. According to a 2023 Index Digital Survey, 57% of Brits believe this is the most stressful event people go through in life, beating huge milestones such as having a child and getting a divorce. So, it’s understandable why some people may overlook specific details.
The garden, however, should not be one of them. Impressing potential buyers before, during, and after they leave the property is essential. Every outdoor area should be maintained, including painting the front door and mowing the garden. Small touches like this add up to create a welcoming environment.
4. Remove personalised items from the space
To create a comfortable environment, people often decorate their houses with personalised decor, including family photos and their children’s drawings. These souvenirs are daily reminders of the memories and experiences that make a house feel like home.
However, when potential buyers walk through a listing, they should be able to envision themselves living there, not the sellers. To facilitate this, sellers should consider depersonalising their space and creating a blank canvas for the buyer. In turn, they will be better equipped to envision their own lives within the space, improving the chances of closing a sale.
5. Consider removing any pets from the property before viewings
To any animal lover, nothing screams, “I’m home.” more than an excited pet running down the corridor after a long day at work. However, it is essential to consider that not everyone has or likes pets. In fact, up to 35% of people in the U.K. are actually allergic to pets, according to Allergy UK.
As such, sellers should consider temporarily relocating pets from their property before any pre-planned viewings. This may seem like an imposition, but any smells or belongings, such as food bowls, litter boxes, and toys, are enough to deter potential buyers.
6. Highlight the unique features and selling points of a property
According to research by IBISWorld, over 1.3 million U.K. homes were sold between 2021 and 2022. To stand out from the crowd, sellers can entice potential buyers by highlighting unique features within their properties.
Whether the property has a warm fireplace, countryside views, or open-plan living, these unique aspects should be highlighted to leave a lasting impression on people. Furthermore, sellers can also move furniture around to emphasise these elements.
7. Stop overlooking simple fixes and repairs
Minor repairs in the home are often overlooked. For example, a squeaky door may frustrate homeowners, but they may not go out of their way to fix the issue as soon as possible. To a prospective buyer, however, this may be the difference between closing a sale and saying goodbye to another potential buyer.
While maintaining appearances is key when selling a home, it’s also essential to complete these repairs to the best standard rather than simply covering up an issue with paint or a photo frame. Therefore, the experts recommend hiring professionals to conduct repairs throughout the home before arranging viewings, including everything from leaky taps to peeling wallpaper.
8. Don’t forget to deep clean and declutter
Finally, in the busyness of daily life, it’s easy to let living spaces accumulate clutter. However, ensuring all homes are immaculately clean is essential. A spotless, clutter-free home not only looks more spacious but also suggests to buyers that the property has been well-cared for.
Homeowners should focus on every nook and cranny, including scrubbing skirting boards and cleaning the grout, paying special attention to high-impact areas like kitchens and bathrooms where cleanliness is crucial. This is especially important to remember if people have had their homes on the market for longer than expected.
By following these tips, sellers can create a welcoming and attractive environment that entices potential buyers.
