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Preparing Your Home to Sell: What Not to Do

Posted on: Tuesday, December 20, 2022

 

Selling your home can be surprisingly time-consuming and emotionally challenging. It is the single most valuable and personal asset you can put on the market, so it is important to take your time and make sure everything is done the right way. To help you avoid making any mistakes when preparing your home for a sale, here are some key things to consider...

Deep cleaning is a must

A thorough deep clean is absolutely necessary to attract buyers and you should target all the spots you might miss during your everyday clean-ups. Getting your home looking as fresh as possible will tell buyers that it has been looked after and that they won’t have to worry about undergoing any of their own large cleaning tasks upon move-in day. 

Don’t let the house appear too ‘lived in’

Washing hanging up outside, dishes left on the rack, and blankets on the sofas are all subconscious signs that your home suits an average lifestyle when what you’re really trying to sell is a lifestyle which exceeds the buyer’s current one. Try to clear away items that aren’t in their right place, as this will leave more to the buyer’s imagination about what living in your home is like.   

Don’t over personalise

It’s nothing personal, but items that you love in your home could be a distraction to others. Presenting the space as neutrally as possible will allow the buyers to envision themselves living in your home, rather than feeling like they are visiting someone’s property. This doesn’t mean you should clear everything away; picture how you would wish a fully furnished property to be presented to you, and go from there. 

Don’t box everything up before taking photographs  

Unless it’s a brand-new home, most buyers will need to see some furniture arrangements to visualise living in the home. Furniture can give a room a purpose and plays to its strengths while also distracting from any weaknesses. Make sure your best furniture is on display and is looking at its best – this means fluffing and arranging pillows, polishing and dusting shelves, and setting up the dining table with finishing touches. 

Don’t waste valuable space 

Plenty of room is hugely attractive to buyers, which is why you should give all rooms a purpose and make them appear as though you use them frequently – even if you don’t. 

Don’t block out the light 

One of the worst mistakes you could make when presenting your home for a viewing is closing the blinds and curtains. Natural lighting can be your home’s best friend, as it reflects off of shiny surfaces and creates an illusion of expanded space, while also making the room brighter and airier. The views outside your windows are also important to buyers, so make sure they’re on full display to show every aspect that your home and its location have to offer. 

Don’t skip the agent  

It can be tempting to sell your home alone and skip any agent fees, but there are several risks involved and it’s important to note that there could be consequences when attempting to navigate the property market alone. Without an agent, you could risk encountering fraud or receiving offers much lower than your home’s true value. A good agent has your best interests at heart. They will help you set a fair and competitive selling price for your home, which will increase your odds of a quick sale. An agent will also have more experience negotiating home sales, helping you get more money than you could on your own. If any problems crop up during the process, an experienced professional will also be there to handle them for you.   

 

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I would highly recommend Hardings Estate Agents. They have excellent knowledge of Windsor and the surrounding areas, and are extremely professional, responsive and courteous. I would not hesitate to using them again the future. I recently dealt with Milica who was instrumental in securing us our new home in Windsor as well as the sale of our existing property. She was a fab negotiator and a real pleasure to work with from beginning to end. Thank you!

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Hardings of Windsor managed our purchase with complete professionalism and went over and above in my opinion to manage the transaction and chain, resulting in a really smooth purchase. Milica at Hardings constantly provided timely updates and managed respective solicitors and the chain effectively, always responding quickly to queries. The whole transaction would not have happened without Milicas' focus on making all parties comfortable and satisfying all queries, not only professional but a delightful and welcoming personal approach that was a constant throughout. Thanks Hardings! Thanks Milica!

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Cath Powell

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Freppell

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Natalie Quint

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I used Hardings when I bought my property as well as when I sold it and the service has been fantastic both times. I very much recommend Hardings!

Therese Jouini

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We recently purchased our new home with Hardings Estate Agents. The whole team there were very helpful and flexible with us, arranging viewings quickly on the same day. They were always quick to respond and if ever our point of contact was not there, the service did not change as they work well together as a team. We received a personalised service, which allowed the sale to proceed quickly. Thank you all and we recommend Hardings Estate Agents without hesitation.

Mike B

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What a pleasure it was to deal with Milica from Hardings. She sourced the perfect property for me and my family (while we were still abroad) and worked endlessly to put the deal together. I would give more than 5 stars if at all possible!

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How Much is Your Property Worth?

How Much is Your Property Worth?

A senior member of our sales team will visit your property to discuss current market trends and how your home; based on size, condition and location should be pitched to achieve the best possible price and buyer. Coupled with an excellent understanding of the local market we do a detailed analysis of what else has sold and what is coming onto the market so we can give you the best chance to capitalise on your biggest asset.

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