Top tips: how the pros turn properties into goldmines

Selling houses is a bit like writing – everyone thinks they can do it. Most people, apart from illiterates, animals and Donald Trump, can write words, but they’ll probably never have a novel published or even manage to finish a decent short story without frying their frontal lobe.

You might have had a letter published in your local newspaper, or been praised for your narrative poem by your best friend, but lightning is unlikely to strike twice. Those are just the brokes, as they say.

In the same vein, anyone can luck out on a house sale. But being able to sell real estate consistently and well is a craft that takes years to hone.

But the first rule of real estate is simple – you can’t sell a turd of a property. You can, however, polish it.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few simple measures on how you can add some pizzazz to a crumby looking property. Give it a look.

Pests away

If you’ve snapped up a house or office complex that’s been left empty for a while, there’s every chance that it’ll have a lot of problems. Damp, dry rot and pests will inevitably have infected every room – and buyers won’t be interest in it until you’ve shifted these blights.

These are problems that won’t be remedied without expertise, especially with issues like pest control. If you’re struggling with an infestation, contact your local provider of pest control services, and give them a few days to clear out your property and make it suitable for human habitation again.

Although this might cost you a few quid, it’s a vital way to make your real estate look great.

All in the nose

Scent marketing has become big business, and no more so than in real estate. Although the strategy of filling a home with the smell of baked cookies is hackneyed by today’s standards, plenty of other smells (lavender and ginger are particular favourites) are available to set the olfactory senses alight.

Don’t make the scent you choose overpowering. Instead, fill your room with smells a few hours beforehand, letting it gently lilt around the property.

For some, a strong smell will transport them back to a childhood memory, while others might just enjoy a whiff of something fresh. Either way, prospective buyers will be impressed.

The parting gift

Every property, whether it’s an office complex or a residential building, should have a standout feature that will impress almost any viewer. But this shouldn’t be the opening of your tour. Instead, it should be left until the end, a knockout after a few effective one-two punches.

Leaving viewers with a good impression will make them more likely to snap up a property – and put profit in your pocket.

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

to let sign 2025
Breaking News

Thames Valley Rents Surge to £1,448 – 6% Above UK Average

Average rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average, new report reveals Rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average of £1,369 Wokingham and Reading highlighted as key areas of interest for renters and investors Renters in Thames Valley are more likely to be older than anywhere else in…
Read More
Breaking News

July’s HMRC Property Transactions Report

Headline statistics Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include: the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 96,710, 1% lower than July 2025 and 2% lower than June 2026 the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 106,620, 5% higher than July…
Read More
Breaking News

Almost half of homesellers hit by broken chains

The latest research from House Buyer Bureau has revealed that almost half of home sellers who form part of a property chain have seen that chain break during the sales process, with buyers changing their minds and pulling out by far the most common reason why.   House Buyer Bureau commissioned an independent survey of 1,072…
Read More
Social Housing 2019
Breaking News

Only 1 in 10 new-build homebuyers happy

Just 1 in 10 new-build buyers got the home they wanted before moving in   The latest research from UK Property Development (UKPD) has found that just 11% of people who purchased a new-build home in the past two years were able to personalise their property exactly as they wanted before moving in. As a…
Read More
Breaking News

One-third of tenant income in the UK goes on rent

Lomond’s Summer 2026 Quarterly Insights report reveals tenants now spend an average of 32.7% of their yearly income on rent UK average rents rise to £1,369pcm, increasing by +4.3% in the same period last year Average rent in London reaches £2,418pcm, 76% higher than the UK average The average age of renters across the UK is now 31.5   Lomond, the UK’s leading network of lettings and sales agents, has…
Read More
Finance

Six in 10 UK businesses look to adapt operations in response to extreme heat

37 per cent have increased heat-related investment, with 23 per cent considering it Cooling equipment, including air conditioning and ventilation, is the most common investment priority (28 per cent) Barclays anonymised client data shows that air conditioning suppliers saw cash inflows increase by 4.3 per cent year-on-year into Barclays accounts Consumers claim 25.1°C is their…
Read More