How to prepare your property for a viewing
When your home is on the market, every viewing is an opportunity for a potential buyer to imagine themselves living there.
That doesn't mean your home needs to look like a show home every time somebody comes through the door.
In fact, preparing for a viewing is often less about making dramatic changes and more about making your property feel clean, comfortable, welcoming and easy to appreciate.
Here are some simple things you can do to help your home make a great impression.
Start with the first impression
A buyer's viewing starts before they walk through the front door.
Take a quick look at your property from the street.
Is the entrance tidy? Are bins out of sight where possible? Does the front garden need a quick sweep? Could you move any unnecessary items away from the doorway?
You don't need to completely transform the exterior. Small details can simply make the property feel cared for from the moment a buyer arrives.
Let in as much light as possible
Natural light can make rooms feel brighter, more spacious and more inviting.
Before a viewing:
- Open curtains and blinds
- Turn on lamps in darker areas
- Replace any bulbs that aren't working
- Avoid leaving rooms unnecessarily dark
If you're having an evening viewing, good lighting becomes even more important. Rather than relying on one bright overhead light, lamps can help create a warmer and more comfortable atmosphere.
Have a quick tidy — but don't remove all the personality
You don't need to hide every sign that somebody lives in your home.
Buyers generally expect a property to feel lived in.
The aim is simply to make it easy for them to appreciate the space.
Clear unnecessary items from kitchen worktops, straighten cushions and bedding, put away washing and remove any obvious clutter from floors and surfaces.
Pay particular attention to hallways and smaller rooms. Too many belongings can sometimes make these spaces feel smaller than they actually are.
Think tidy and welcoming, rather than completely empty.
Give the kitchen and bathroom a little extra attention
Buyers often pay close attention to kitchens and bathrooms, so a few minutes spent here can make a difference.
Clear dishes away, wipe down worktops and sinks, put toiletries away where practical and make sure towels are tidy.
Again, there's no need to create a showroom.
You're simply helping the buyer concentrate on the room rather than the things sitting in it.
Make sure the house feels fresh
We quickly become accustomed to the smell of our own homes, but somebody walking in for the first time will notice it immediately.
Before a viewing, it can help to open a few windows for a short while and let some fresh air circulate.
If you have pets, pay particular attention to pet bedding, litter trays and food bowls.
There's no need to fill the property with strong air fresheners or artificial fragrances. Clean and fresh is usually better than overpoweringly scented.
Think about the temperature
It sounds like a small detail, but buyers are more likely to take their time when they feel comfortable.
On a cold day, a warm home can feel particularly welcoming.
During warmer weather, opening windows beforehand or making sure rooms aren't uncomfortably hot can make the viewing more pleasant.
The longer somebody feels comfortable looking around, the more opportunity they have to appreciate your home.
Don't forget the garden
If you have outside space, treat it as another room.
You don't need to completely redesign the garden before every viewing.
Simply putting away unnecessary items, straightening furniture, removing obvious weeds or leaves and keeping paths accessible can help buyers appreciate the space.
If you have a patio or seating area, making it look usable can help buyers picture themselves enjoying it.
What about pets?
You know your pet is friendly. A potential buyer doesn't.
Some buyers may be nervous around animals, have allergies or simply find it difficult to concentrate on the property with an excited dog following them around.
Where practical, consider taking pets out during the viewing or keeping them somewhere they won't distract the buyer.
It also gives the viewer the freedom to look around without worrying about leaving a door or gate open.
Should you be there during the viewing?
Where possible, we'd generally recommend giving buyers the space to look around comfortably.
People often behave differently when the homeowner is standing beside them.
They may feel uncomfortable opening a cupboard, spending longer in a particular room or having an honest conversation about what they're thinking.
Giving them some breathing room can make for a more relaxed viewing.
And when Brown & Brooke is conducting the viewing, we can use that opportunity to speak with the buyer, understand their reaction and answer their questions.
Don't start a major project because you have a viewing
A viewing tomorrow isn't the time to decide the entire house needs repainting.
Small jobs such as replacing a bulb, tightening a loose handle or touching up something obvious can be worthwhile.
But don't assume you need to spend significant amounts of money improving your property just because it's on the market.
Before undertaking larger work purely to help your sale, speak to us first.
Not every improvement will add enough value or buyer appeal to justify the cost.
The 15-minute pre-viewing checklist
If you've only got a few minutes before somebody arrives, concentrate on the basics:
- Open the curtains and blinds.
- Turn on lights where needed.
- Clear kitchen worktops.
- Straighten beds, cushions and towels.
- Put obvious clutter away.
- Give kitchens and bathrooms a quick check.
- Let some fresh air through the property.
- Tidy the entrance and outside space.
- Take care of pets where necessary.
Then leave the rest to us.
You don't need to create the perfect home
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that buyers aren't expecting perfection.
They're trying to work out whether your property could become their home.
Our job is to help them appreciate what your property has to offer, answer their questions and understand how serious they are about moving.
Your job is simply to present your home at its best without making the process unnecessarily stressful.
And if you're ever unsure whether something is worth changing before your next viewing, speak to the Brown & Brooke team.
We're here to advise you throughout the process — not just market your property — and ultimately help you successfully make your move.