Selling fast! Spruce up your home ahead of double Bank Holiday viewing rush
Average property takes 145 days to go under offer, but some get snapped up in as few as 13 days
Property expert shares top tips to get your property sell-ready in hours ahead of May Bank Holiday showings
Spring is house-moving time for many Brits and the double Bank Holidays in May are peak time for viewings. The average UK property can take 145 days to go under offer, but the fastest can take as few as 13 days, and the slowest can take nearly two years (719 days)*. To make the difference, speed up your sale and stand out from the throng with simple fixes to smarten up your property.
Property expert Fred Jones, CEO of instant homebuyer, Upstix, shares simple tips to take advantage of May’s double Bank Holidays and get your home sell-ready in hours, to help you get the best offer.
1. Make the outside shine
You want to make a good impression, and your front door is the very first thing potential buyers will see. A fresh lick of paint and a power clean of the windows can do wonders to make your home look attractive and looked after from first glance.
Tidy up the Garden
People love a garden, so make sure you show yours at its best in the May sunshine. Clear away any clutter or rubbish, or even gardening equipment that might be scattered about. Cut your grass and prune your hedges to make your garden look cared for and neat, so buyers feel confident the property has been well-maintained.
Declutter
Get rid of all your Knick Knacks and personal items – they may mean the world to you but not to a buyer! A cluttered home can distract buyers from seeing its full potential, so clear as much space as you can. You want your buyer to be able to imagine themselves living there and make it seem as large as possible.
Make Quick Fixes
Make sure everything looks functional – any obvious damage, broken hinges or leaky faucets need a fix. Even just a new coat of paint on a marked wall can make a world of difference and reassure buyers that your home is in good shape.
Don’t Remove Essential Appliances
Don’t take all your appliances with you yet if you’re moving out – it can make a home feel much less desirable if the fridge, oven and television are nowhere to be found. Making sure essential appliances are still visible helps your home feel ready to move into.
Get a Pet Sitter
You love your pooch, but not everyone will! Pet smells can be real a turn-off for sensitive-nosed buyers, so best to ask someone to look after your pet while you’re showing the house to avoid lingering smells. Light some candles, air out the space, and ensure your home smells fresh and welcoming.
Check the temperature
We all dream of lovely May days, but don’t always get our wish for perfect weather. If it’s cold, leave the heating on to make your home warm and cosy – if it’s hot, turn the fan on. When buyers come for a viewing, a too cold or too hot home can make them feel less comfortable, so make sure it’s a nice balance to make them feel at ease.
Furnish Your Rooms Traditionally
When you live somewhere for a while, you tend to adapt the space to your needs (like using a downstairs room as a bedroom or a shower room for storage). But buyers tend to like a traditional lay out, so it’s best to stage the space in a traditional way to avoid jarring people’s expectations.
Fred Jones, CEO of Upstix, said: “Step one of getting a better, speedier offer on your home is making buyers feel confident they could move in right now. They don’t want to think about having to do repairs or major cleaning when they’re looking round – you want them to feel at ease and comfortable in the space.
“Taking a few hours to polish things up before showing your property will save you time and money in the end. If buyers instinctively feel the property is in good shape, they’re much less likely to spend ages deliberating. You’re likely to get an offer faster – and a better one. With the first May Bank Holiday viewing rush coming up this week, take advantage of the day off and spend a few hours revamping your home – and reap the benefits!”
Upstix offers homeowners a fast and straightforward route to sell their property, making instant cash offers and completing transactions in as little as seven days. For homeowners seeking certainty and speed, Upstix provides a reliable alternative to traditional home selling.
For homeowners looking to quickly and transparently start the process of selling a home, Upstix’s Instant Cash Offer portal allows sellers to receive an instant property valuation and cash offer range for their property. It uses AI to analyse available data about a property and neighbourhood to provide an estimated price range.
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