When trying to sell your property, you want to move fast – capturing attention at its peak to maximise buyer interest and offers. But can you really have your home under offer less than a week after listing in the current market, and if so, how can you make such magic happen?
There are a few caveats, but if you are prepared to put in the groundwork, then as buyer interest and the spring peak continues to bloom, it is possible to go from listing to accepting an offer in less than a week. If you’re lucky, you might even have buyers competing for your property, which could even help to nudge the selling price higher than the asking price.
Thoroughly declutter
As much as you might hope there’s a way to skip this step, there isn’t. It’s one of the most vital because it’s what allows a potential buyer to see beyond your ‘stuff’ to the property itself. The more you can depersonalise a space – without making it totally without heart – the better the chance of presenting a canvas on which buyers can imagine making their mark.
It really is an opportunity to be ruthless, mindful that letting things go means less to shift when you finally move. Your local tip may become a local haunt for a few weeks, but you can also donate or sell items. If there are things you simply can’t get rid of but will take up space when selling, ask friends or family if they have storage room, or invest in a short-term storage unit.
Clean and refresh
Once the clutter has gone, the cleaning and refresh process can begin in earnest. Again, some elbow grease is required but the results can be as transformative as the decluttering was. Be mindful of anything that needs repairing or looks neglected and needs refreshing. Tackling these small jobs will ensure your property looks well-maintained, giving buyers confidence that parts of the property that aren’t so obvious have been well looked after.
Repainting your property might seem like a lot of effort for a buyer whose tastes you can’t predict, but a fresh coat in a neutral colour will reinforce the blank canvas effect. You are appealing to the masses here – not the more limited market of those who might share your love of teal feature walls.
Pay attention to key selling points such as the kitchen and bathroom
You should pay particular attention to bathrooms and kitchens since they can make or break a sale. Your dream kitchen might never have become a reality, but it’s up to you to move that dream to your new property instead. Your legacy should be a clean, functional kitchen that buyers can use, even if they the same ambition of replacing.
Bathrooms can also look tired quickly. Mouldy sealant and grimy grout make a bathroom look dirty, dated and neglected but, like limescales on taps, shower heads and shower screens, are easy DIY fixes that can leave your bathroom looking almost new.
Dress to impress and offer at a price that wows
Dressing your property for your potential market is another key tactic to selling quickly. It may not be show-home standards, but you can take your inspiration from such properties. Fresh accessories, such as new towels in the bathroom and freshly ironed duvet covers in bedrooms will help. All rooms should be clearly defined by purpose.
However, all this effort means nothing without the correct pricing to entice potential buyers across the threshold. The latest figures from Rightmove for March show the number of homes for sale remains at an 11-year peak, which makes realistic, competitive pricing essential. But, despite concerns about the impact of the Iran war, the number of sales agreed is only 2% behind the strong start seen last year. Speak to your agent for advice on how to price to sell fast. If you can do what you can to ensure there’s no onward chain – perhaps by renting or moving in with friends or family – you can improve your chance of a quick sale even further.
For more information on how we can assist you on your sales journey, please contact one of our branches in Essex, London or Hertfordshire today. We also offer a free and instant online valuation to give you an idea of how much your home could be worth on the current market.
