Getting ready for a  home sale isn’t something you should aim to do in a weekend. It usually requires small repairs – inside and out, paintwork, decluttering, finding the right estate agent and assembling the necessary documentation. All this takes about three times longer than you think so take plenty of time to prepare. Check out this tips:

CHECK OUT THE COMPETITION

Sign up to property portals and receive digital alerts about houses for sale in your area. This gives an idea of what the competition in your area looks like, the prices being sought and which estate agents are most active in your area.

LOCATE YOUR HOUSE DEEDS

Assemble all the documents you need before bringing it to market. The first thing you need is to locate the deeds.

CHOOSE YOUR ESTATE AGENT

“Invite agents who are most active in your area for their thoughts and recommendations. The mean average of the valuations given by a selection of agents is probably the most realistic asking price.

IDENTIFY YOUR BUYER PROFILE

The property needs to be attractive to the buyer profile active in your area. “If we think your home is best suited to buyers with young families then we will suggest that the third bedroom that you’re using as a home office is set up as a bedroom with the home office situated elsewhere within the house.”

FEES

Before you instruct an agent ask for a complete breakdown on fees and then negotiate on the rates charged. It may be possible to incentivise the selling agent with a higher fee if they achieve over a certain value for you.

CAST A CRITICAL EYE

Ask a trusted friend – whose style you admire – to cast a critical eye over the property highlighting its weak points. Do this in good time before going to market so that you can implement as many suggestions as is financially possible.

MOBILE ACCESS

Choose an agent whose site works well on mobile devices.

“Google also gives higher ranking to sites that are mobile responsive and we’ve already seen a shift in the number of agents requesting upgrades to their sites as a result of this.” Also ask your estate agent about page impressions and its ranking on property portals.

KERB APPEAL

Ensure the garden to the front is immaculate. When selling your house clean up any litter or broken glass all along the pavement in front of the house.

“Sweep up any rubbish or dog droppings outside the physical perimeter of your property and that of your neighbours to create a better first impression. Power-wash the front and back too,”

“And don’t forget to polish the door brasses, it looks like the house has been well-loved and cared for.”

FRESHEN UP BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD

A fresh coat of paint on the walls, ceilings and woodwork can transform the look of a home. Decluttering is important too but there is a fine line between decluttering and removing all of the property’s personality to its detriment.

BEDROOM ELEGANCE

Kitchens and bathrooms may sell homes but bedrooms are often overlooked. New bed linen will make rooms look fresh and crisp.

CLEAN HOUSE = DREAM HOUSE

A professional deep clean will transform the house and help remove cooking and/or animal smells.  A grubby bathroom really lets a property down. Steam clean grouting and floors or you could enlist the services of a professional cleaning company.

BEDROOM ELEGANCE

Kitchens and bathrooms may sell homes but bedrooms are often overlooked. New bed linen will make rooms look fresh and crisp.

First impression matters!

Serious buyers will snoop during open viewings. Declutter cloakrooms and wardrobes to appear two-thirds full. This gives the illusion of ample storage. On the viewing day open windows to air the house. Don’t burn strongly scented candles as it may put some viewers off. Fresh-cut flowers in the hall or kitchen are a nice touch.