Category: estate agent viewings

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How to prepare for viewings so buyers fall in love with your home

So, you’ve got the ball rolling with the house on the market, and your first viewing is booked in – it’s an exciting time! But the next step is one of the most important when it comes to selling your home – and that’s the preparation that goes on behind the scenes before a potential buyer’s visit. Remember, first impressions count, so making sure you’ve covered all bases when prepping is what will really charm a buyer into putting their offer in.

It can be hard to know where to start – and stop! – when preparing for viewings, but over the years we’ve whittled it down to a curated list of 7 tried and tested tips that will have buyers falling in love with your home in 20 minutes, tops.

  1. Give it some kerb appeal

No matter what, we always recommend that you start your preparation with the spot viewers will see first – your outdoor space. Begin by giving the front garden some basic TLC by trimming the hedges, moving the bins out of sight, jet washing patios and driveways and, if you think it’s needed, reviving the front door with a fresh lick of paint.

Once you’ve tidied the entrance, turn your attention to the back garden by mowing the lawn and adding a few potted plants for a subtle splash of colour. Still think you can do more to prep your outside space? Check out our garden styling tips to add that extra ‘wow’ factor.

  1. Convenience is key

On the day of the viewing, try to make sure that the visitors have somewhere to easily park their vehicle. This is a point that often gets overlooked, but you want to make the visit as smooth and hassle-free as possible for the potential buyer so that you’re instilling an optimistic mindset from the off.

  1. Don’t forget to revamp and repair

At a viewing, potential buyers may open doors, look into cupboards, turn on lights and just generally check that everything is in proper working order. So, making sure that all your furniture and décor looks great and works as it should is key.

Make good on repairs and update any lacklustre décor by filling in picture frame holes, covering marks on the walls, fixing broken cupboards and doors, refreshing the grout in the kitchen and bathroom, and replacing expired lightbulbs.

  1. Style the space

When preparing your home, you really want to highlight all the best bits in the most presentable way – and creating an aspirational lifestyle set-up with a bit of styling will enable you to do just that.

Start by bringing finesse to the dining table with your best serveware; then use strategically placed mirrors to bounce light around the rooms, add fresh towels to the bathroom and adorn the walls with your favourite artworks to create a focal point.

  1. Create that cosy, lived-in feel

Of course, making sure the house is looking spick and span goes without saying, but in the eyes of a potential buyer, you really want to take your home to the next level not just in the way it looks, but the way it feels. An easy way to do so is by creating a well-loved, lived-in feel that’s a real feast for the senses.

We advise bringing welcoming aromas into your house with scented diffusers in each room or, if you’re a keen cook, try out the time-tested hack of preparing a batch of freshly baked goods and letting the comforting scent wander through the house.

If you have a fireplace, set the logs alight to give the living area a cosy feel, and turn on lamps and any accent lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere. If it’s not too cool outside, open the windows to let some fresh air flow through, too. And remember to remove family photographs and replace them with fresh flowers – this will let visitors more easily envisage themselves in your home.

  1. Take pets away for the day

We understand that pets are part of the family, but the people viewing your house may not share the same outlook, and what’s more, they might be allergic. So, if you can, it’s best to let a neighbour or relative look after your furry friend for the day. Before the visitors arrive, it’s also worth airing out the rooms and adding a diffuser or two to neutralise any pet odours.

  1. Speak to your estate agent

Knowing your audience is always a huge help when prepping your home for viewings. Your estate agent will already have done a little background research on who will be viewing your house and would have asked them questions about what they’re looking for specifically. It may be that they’re searching for a space with a fantastic garden or a large kitchen, in which case you can focus your efforts even more on these areas when prepping your home – for instance, try moving furniture around to showcase a room’s spacious potential or create a seating area in the garden so visitors can enjoy the view.

As you’re familiar with the area, it’s also a great idea to offer up more information to your estate agent on all the best parts of your local surroundings so they can pass this on to potential buyers during the viewing. Tell them about the proximity to your favourite shops, the best schools, peaceful countryside walks and hidden gems that others may not know about.

If you have queries on how you can best prepare for a house viewing or have any general questions about marketing your home, then please do get in touch with our team – we’re always more than happy to help! Simply contact us by phone on 01772 252136 or send us an email at info@stonehousehomes.co.uk , and a member of our friendly team will get back to you directly.

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8 Ways to Work with your Estate Agent for the Best Results

So, you’ve picked out your estate agent to help sell your home, but what’s the next step? While for the most part the baton is now with the agent, who’s responsible for keeping the progress of the sale on track, there are still some things you can do to achieve the very best desired outcome when selling your house.

Try looking at it this way: you and your estate agent are now a team. You’re on the same side and are both equally motivated to secure the right sale. In light of that, it’s best to make sure you’re aligned on exactly what you want to achieve over the next weeks or months.

Still not sure where you stand or what your next steps should be? Not to worry, we understand! That’s why we’ve collated 8 useful pointers which take you from that initial estate agent meeting through to obtaining the right offer.

  1. Be clear on your timeline

Before you do anything else, make sure you and your agent are aligned on your expectations from the outset. Ask questions and iron out any queries you have, as well as giving an indication of how quickly you’re looking to move – whether you’re aiming for a specific timeframe or you’re happy to hold on a little longer for a more generous buyer. This will really help your agent organise and prioritise your requirements.

  1. Stay updated

Working with your estate agent requires communication on both parts, so keeping in close contact is paramount. Let your agent know how regularly you’d like to be updated on the sale’s progress along the way. For consistent, general updates, we suggest every seven to ten days, but we also recommend aiming for a couple of days after every viewing to gather the potential buyer’s feedback.

  1. Act on feedback

Potential buyers tend to be honest and forthcoming with their opinions on a house, especially after a viewing. So, while there will be positive feedback, there may also be some criticism. If this happens, try not to be disheartened and instead let your estate agent know that you’re open to all kinds of feedback so you can use it to your advantage. You may notice common themes in the feedback you receive, which will help you decipher what you can do to improve your home for the next viewing. For instance, the buyer may suggest that the décor is a little tired or that certain areas need some TLC. Be prepared to dedicate some time to these updates, potentially with a fresh lick of paint or a weekend of DIY fixing – you can rest assured that it will make all the difference on your next viewing.

  1. Decide on a marketing strategy

Give your estate agent a steer when it comes to where you want your home to be advertised to potential buyers. You’ll likely want a ‘for sale’ sign up, but aside from that, decide on whether you want your house advertised in the local press and stipulate how many times you want it to be shown if so. Give an indication of approximately how long you’d like your house to appear in the estate agent’s window and provide some direction as to which online portals you want to see your home shown on.

  1. Approve the marketing

Your agent will likely have a list of marketing details for you to approve, all of which should highlight the qualities your home has to offer. They will be used to market your house and will likely be the first place potential buyers will read about your home. So, while the estate agent will have thoroughly checked through this information, you also want to make sure nothing has been missed in the description.

  1. Showcase your home’s best angles

Alongside the marketing description, the images of your house should be a top priority, too. To help the photographer capture the best shots possible, try to give your home a thorough tidy before they arrive, move the likes of bins and parked vehicles out of shot for the day, and if you can, switch on accent and mood lighting to create an ambient atmosphere.

Once the house is in shape, add a few stylish touches with fresh flower bouquets in vases, and complete the dining table with your favourite place settings – this will really enhance the lifestyle photography and give viewers a chance to envisage themselves in the space. Try to maintain this look for viewings so potential buyers can fall in love with your home on their visit, too.

  1. Try to be flexible with house viewings

Of course, the more viewings your estate agent can book in, the more offers you’re likely to get. It’s a well-known fact that weekends are when most people are free to view a property, and it gives potential buyers enough time to mull over what they’ve seen and make an offer on Monday morning. Viewers are also more likely to be looking at several houses over a weekend with the aim of making an instant comparison, so it’s best that your home is scheduled in at this time too rather than on a weekday, where it may not remain fresh in their mind.

  1. Carefully consider your offers

Lastly, remember that most of the offers you get will be negotiable, even on occasions when they might seem a little low. Usually, most buyers will get in touch again with a better counteroffer if the first is politely declined, so try not to be too quick to dismiss an offer from a potentially committed buyer.

Do you want to know more about how you and your estate agent can work together? Or do you have general questions about marketing your home? Either way, feel free to reach out to our team, who are always more than happy to help. Simply contact us by phone on 01772 252136 or send us an email at info@stonehousehomes.co.uk and we’ll get straight back to you.