When it comes to selling your home, is there such a thing as a good time? Or for that matter a bad time?
You can’t paint the entire UK housing market with the same brush. It’s not a single entity. But rather made up of lots of micro-markets.
So, there’s always going to be a degree of uncertainty.
Similarly, you can’t always foresee what life has in store for you either. Let’s say you need to sell your house quickly due to divorce, or you’re relocating for work then waiting for the ‘perfect’ market isn’t an option.
If you need help selling your home in a tough market, just follow these easy tips.
#1 Get the price right
According to Price Waterhouse Coopers, house prices will be 9% more expensive in 2025 than in 2018. Non the less, you must resist the urge to bump up your asking price in the hope that someone will just go for it. They won’t.
Homebuyers do their homework and they’ll know how much your house is really worth.
And, you don’t want to put people off as you’ll end up languishing on the property market watching your property lose value.
Moreover, by pricing your house to sell you’ll also encourage those all-important viewings. In doing so, you could increase your chances of buyers entering a bidding war, which will undoubtedly raise the final selling price.
#2 First impressions count
We know buyers spend more time contemplating whether to buy a sofa than they do a property. So, it’s no exaggeration you have seconds to make that crucial first impression.
Spent time improving your kerb appeal. Tidy up your front lawn and driveway. Get your windows cleaned inside and out. Make sure your property number if clearly visible. Remove bin bags and recycling boxes so they’re out of sight.
Don’t forget to invest in getting a professional photographer so you have the best listing images to entice buyers.
#3 Home stage your property
To help make your property stand out, apply some home staging rules to catch people’s attention. These include:
- Deep clean so everything is spotless.
- De-clutter every room including bookshelves, kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and all storage spaces.
- Replace old appliances.
- Check plumbing and drains.
- Make any necessary repairs such re-grouting in the bathroom.
- Get rid of bulky furniture and heavy curtains.
- Store away family photos, kids artwork, trinkets and personal items.
- Give tired walls a fresh lick of paint.
- Add extra lighting especially in spaces that don’t get much natural light.
- Add plants and fresh flowers.
- Get rid of bad odours.
The point of home staging is to depersonalise your property as much possible so prospective buyers can imagine themselves living in it. Also, by using the above tips you’ll create more light and space in your home making it feel bigger and more attractive.
#4 Be transparent
If you’re selling your house because you’re relocating for a new job, the likelihood is you won’t have to fix-up everything.
Let’s say you’ve got old boiler or drainage issues, don’t try to hide these from serious buyers.
They’ll find out anyway once the survey report is released. More than that, being honest about potential issues, will help buyers trust you about the other stuff too.
#5 Be ready to move
These days, it takes around sixty-two days for a sale to complete. You can speed up the process a little by making your property ready to move in. Consider moving out early and renting or move in with friends or family as you wait for the sale to complete.
Need help selling your house when relocating
Selling your home because you’re relocating or emigrating abroad can be doubly stressful. It can be quicker to use a non-traditional estate agent route.
House Buy Fast will buy your property for cash and guarantee a firm completion date. What’s great is can then confidently make all the necessary arrangements without worrying something will go wrong at the last minute.
