The estate agents and property solicitors at ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan are experts at selling property, especially in Edinburgh. Although Edinburgh has a very buoyant market and it is usually easy to sell your house, there are some tasks that homeowners should do which will help improve the speed of the sale and the price obtained.
Some house viewers will be able to see past your decoration and imagine how they could decorate your home. Others will view your home, decide they don’t like the decor, and move on to another property. If you are moving home because you need a bigger house, then look around you. Does your home look cluttered? If the rooms are jam-packed full of furniture and toys it may make your home look small to potential viewers. With these things in mind, here are some great tips from our experts for preparing your home for sale.
5 Top tips to help you sell your home
- Declutter
The aim is to make your home look as big as possible but still lived in and loved. Throw out items you aren’t going to take to your new house and put some items in storage if your rooms are too cluttered. - Clean
We can’t emphasise enough how much a fresh, clean home can help with the sale. People are easily put off by bad smells and odours, and dirty homes. Also, if budgets are tight and a potential buyer can see fresh clean carpets and kitchen units, it might make them purchase your home knowing that they don’t have to buy these things as soon as they move in. Give your home a full spring clean and if possible get your carpets shampooed. Remember to clean your windows and make sure your hob is gleaming. - Freshen up the bathroom
Buyers really like to see a clean bathroom but one job that can make a bathroom look new is to replace old, dirty grout and refresh the sealant. - Paint
You don’t need to paint your whole house but touching up chipped or marked paintwork can make a huge difference. If your house is very colourful or the paintwork is tired, you may get more people interested if at least some of the rooms are updated with a more neutral colour. - Don’t forget the outside!
As the first thing a potential buyer will see is the outside of your house, ensure it is in great condition. We would always advise you to stand back and look at the entrance to your property. It is amazing what a freshly painted front door and some eye-catching planted pots at the door can do. Replace any missing slates from the roof, clean the guttering and tidy up your garden. Give your home some kerb appeal.
Once you have completed all these jobs, think about staging your property.
This is so important when selling as we are naturally drawn to attractive, styled homes. Try to keep that balance of styled, but still showing the warmth of a home. Allow space for viewers to move around, and give access to a window if there is a nice outlook as we are drawn to this when we enter a room. For those homes that are empty, we highly recommend using either a company that will furnish it for your sale, or virtually staging a photo or two, as this helps buyers visualise how the property will look furnished.
All of these small jobs are so worthwhile and the effort will pay off!
If you would like to chat through any aspect of this article or would like a Free Pre-Sale Valuation for your property, please get in touch with the estate agents at ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan and we will be delighted to help. We have a hugely experienced and friendly team on both the estate agency and conveyancing sides, and we pride ourselves on doing a valuable and professional job for our clients.
Similarly, if you would like further information about any of our properties for sale, please do get in touch with us.
Published on Oct 11, 2021
