How To Get Your Property Viewing Ready
July 1, 2016
When selling a home it may seem obvious, but doing everything in your power to minimise the risk of leaving anything to chance is a major advantage. The property viewing is one of the most important aspects of the sale and a great deal of emphasis should be put on getting your home in shipshape for the viewings. We have accumulated a short list of advisable tips to ensure that your property will be too much to turn down for any viewers.
First impressions are so vital when staging your property, because a buyer will unconsciously make an instant decision on whether they like the home. A good to way to approach the situation is to put yourself in the shoes of a buyer and not as the homeowner, thinking how they would like to see and explore the property.
Some of these tips are easy fixes, others may require a bit more elbow grease, but will all be worthwhile in the long run when viewers are left unable to find any flaws in the property and without an excuse not to buy.
- Finish off any of the odd DIY jobs you have left neglected, whether it may be completing the painting, fixing the kitchen drawers or laying the flooring. Although some buyers revel in the challenge of fixing up a property, the majority appreciate a finished home, and tying up any loose DIY ends will ease their uncertainties.
- A cluttered home is a messy home and this is a no no for viewers. Ensure that everything is stored away in a neat and orderly fashion; there is nothing worse for viewers than having to navigate their way through a property obstacle course. Expenditure into additional storage could be a wise investment to help tidy away those loose ends.
- Let in the light, having a well-lit house is always going to be an advantage, nobody wants to look around a dark and gloomy residence. Natural light will always be first choice, but if the weather doesn’t want to play ball, use artificial lighting to help illuminate the spaces. On the flip side, don’t get carried away, people don’t want to be blinded by the bright lights either.
- Having an odour filled home is a certain negative and will need to be addressed before any viewers step foot into the property. You may have pets and be unaware of their whiff, but it is likely that a potential buyer will pick up on the smells.
- Making sure you have finished off last night’s dirty dishes may seem like another bit of obvious advice, but guaranteeing that the home is spick and span can only work in your favour. Any pots and pans, plates, glasses or cups need to be stored away neatly to keep the home looking orderly and presentable.
- The exterior of a home is an easy thing to overlook, but carries a heavy weight of importance for viewers. Firing up the lawn mower, cutting back the hedge, pressure washing the patio and weeding the unloved flower beds could make all the difference between the viewer putting in an offer and not.
- Emitting a welcoming aura can be difficult to replicate to a stranger, but making sure the home is at a hospitable temperature is a good start. Make sure the heating is on if the there is a chill in the air and open a few windows if the sun is out in full force.
- A final tip is to reconsider the no shoes rule. Asking a viewer to take off their shoes may lead them to feeling uncomfortable which is best to avoid, you want them to feel as relaxed as possible when looking around the home.
Josh Cousens – abbotFox
You May Also Enjoy
How to find out when a property was built and why it’s important to know
A leading provider of niche and specialist insurance to the home insurance market, Stanhope, has provided a step-by-step guide to finding out when a property was built and explained why it is so important for the homeowner to know its age. Matthew Ashton a Director of Stanhope said: “Knowing the property’s age is crucial for…
Read More 
Five real estate opportunities to watch in 2026
By Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners The 2025 Autumn Budget offered limited stimulus for the housing market and, persistent headwinds such as sticky inflation, higher for longer interest rates, elevated construction costs, and slow planning processes continue to impact development viability. But there are still reasons for cautious optimism. The UK economy…
Read More 
Autumn Budget 2025: What It Means for Buyers, Renters and Landlords
Budget headlines for the property sector: Landlords and property investors are the most directly affected, with slightly higher tax on rental income and frozen tax thresholds. Very high‑value homeowners (£2m+) face a new recurring annual charge from 2028. Renters don’t see direct tax changes, but may end up paying more in rent due to increased…
Read More 
Rightmove’s Most Searched Locations in 2025
Rightmove reveals some of the trends which defined the 2025 property market, from the most viewed homes to the most searched for locations UK’s top property hotspots: London, Manchester, and Glasgow are the most searched for locations in 2025 Capital crowns: Wimbledon, Fulham, and Chiswick are the most searched-for London spots for buyers, while Canary…
Read More 
Consistent support for apprenticeships helps construction
The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system, including £140m for a Mayoral pilot programme. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The consistent messaging from politicians that apprenticeships should be valued as highly as degrees is fantastic and will be of great benefit…
Read More 
6 tips for a stress-free Christmas move
With an average of 87,000 home sales taking place during the month of December, Property DriveBuy has compiled practical advice for those due to complete this festive season, a time already known for being one of the busiest and most emotionally charged periods of the year. Despite this bringing the potential for a more stressful…
Read More