How To Sell Your House: House Selling Tips

Most buyers and sellers agree that a quick house sale is a good house sale; it benefits everyone. But how can you attract buyers, and get them to pay the asking price? We've pulled together our top house selling tips to help you sell your house in the best way possible.

Don't look now, but the post-COVID world is waking up. Following the strange lockdown limbo, when we all learned to juggle, play the ukulele or do a headstand, the housing market is entering a period of activity, and both home sellers and potential buyers are looking to make a deal on property quickly.

The Land Registry Office reports that as of March 2022, the average house sale is closing at just over £278,400 - a staggering increase of nearly 10% in just one year. Clearly, it's a great time to put a house in the shop window.

Most buyers and sellers agree that a quick house sale is a good house sale; it benefits everyone. But how can you attract buyers, and get them to pay the asking price? Or make sure your property goes for a higher sale price? Especially amongst the crowded local market, or online estate agents?

At Just Move In, we're partnered up with many-a good estate agent. We know what it takes to turn potential buyers into serious buyers, and how to get the best price for your house, quickly.

So whether you're an estate agent or an independent home seller, read on for some top tips on how to sell your property.

Want a better asking price? Make it pretty

Selling a house full of clutter - for estate agents, it's a nightmare. Trying to sell your house when there's a pile of half-finished model aeroplanes in the corner of the dining room, or a curious collection of milk bottles and car parts by the front door, can be nigh-on impossible if you want it to fetch a decent market price.

No potential buyer wants to see a random jumble of stuff around the property. All it can do is drive down the price and scare away prospective buyers.

It's important, when viewing a house, for buyers to imagine themselves in the space - so aim to get rid of all that stuff. You can put it with a friend or your parents, rehome it, sell it - but make sure the house is decluttered and tidy when you start the selling process. Give buyers a rough idea of what they can do with their new property.

That includes bulky furniture, which can dominate a room and make it feel smaller; when showing a house, less is more.

Let there be light

An airy, light quality in a house makes it much more likely to become a quick sale. So if you're dealing with a spare bedroom that struggles with sunlight, or a slightly dark hallway, think about ways to make it lighter and brighter.

Hanging up a few wall mirrors can be a great way to achieve this, especially if you're able to 'bounce' light around the space. Failing that, a well-placed lamp never goes amiss in dark corners. You'll also want to ensure that all the bulbs are spick n' span, and nice and bright.

It's surprising how much power windows and natural light have in a house sale; they can make or break a deal, and have a massive impact on the selling price.

You'll definitely want to make sure the windows are clean, inside and out, and dressed decently with tasteful blinds or curtains. That'll go a long way in turning this house sale into a home sale.

Show potential buyers the beauty inside

It's a great idea to spend some time, and possibly a little money, to make the property look like it's in decent nick. Property shoppers, and particularly first time buyers, will be put off by inefficient central heating, cupboards radiating iffy cooking smells, or skirting boards coming loose from the wall.

It'll probably take some time and money to get those overlooked bits and pieces up to scratch, but it'll pay off in the long run.

When you run an open house, local estate agents will have a much easier time getting more buyers through the door if the place has had a lick of paint and the vibe inside is fresh looking. First impressions count.

Similarly, you can massively increase what buyers might consider a reasonable price for the title deeds, if you stump up the funds to make some deeper, more impactful changes in the house.

A loft conversion or an extension can often present low-hanging fruit; it'll take some investment, but allow you to drive a much higher sale price at the estate agents, or in the competitive environment of the auction house. Just make sure you've got all the paperwork and necessary planning permission to give the buyers confidence.

A new boiler is never the most glamorous investment - especially in a house you're planning on moving out of. But if it results in a first-rate energy performance certificate, it can help you persuade buyers that a higher price is worth paying for when those months of cold weather arrive.

Remember: there's cash in the kitchen

It's the heart and soul of a home and the most valuable room in the house, so it makes sense to get your kitchen up to snuff. Often, if cash buyers are on the fence about a property, the estate agent showing them a top-notch kitchen can be the difference that sends them to the mortgage lender.

A whole new suite can be pricey, but it might be worth refacing the cabinets, or scrubbing up the countertop.

In any case, it's definitely worth clearing the surfaces - it removes clutter and creates that price-boosting sense of space. After all, there's no need to display that juicer you use once a year. A vase of fresh flowers will do a much better job - artfully located next to some impressive energy performance certificates, perhaps.

Maximise your curb appeal

People judge property fast - according to Property Reporter, 93% of prospective buyers have their mind made up before they even make it to the front door. Making the inside spaces as fresh and airy as possible is important, but it'll all be in vain if people get a sub-par first impression of your property based on the view from the curb.

Among your external features, the ones which can create the most damage to the property's value include:

Cracks in brickwork or walls
Damaged windows
A rickety roof or misaligned tiling
A less-than-impressive front door
Dripping gutters

Even things as simple as giving the lawn a fresh cut, or emptying the bins and keeping them neatly stored, can be beneficial when trying to sell your house.

Give it some soul

A big part of selling a house is selling its lifestyle. People don't fall in love with properties that look as bland as a budget business hotel - it's got to have some personality. And, in a lot of cases, that means leaving some trace of yourself around the place.

We're not talking about dirty socks hanging out of the washing machine, or the TV paused halfway through last night's Netflix binge. Aim instead to just sprinkle your own stamp about the place. Taste is key to creating sellable accents.

Healthy, luscious-looking houseplants are a good feature. Who doesn't love a bit of greenery? And have a think too about smells around the property, as that can be a huge contributor to a homey vibe. You could brew up some fresh coffee or put out some fresh flowers, for instance.

From old house, to new home

Everyone dreams of a quick sale, but selling a house can be as easy as pie or hair-tearingly difficult, depending on the condition and situation of the house behind the asking price.

But once it’s done, and you switch off the living room lights for the last time - like Will Smith in the final episode of Fresh Prince - that’s when the fun can commence, and you can really start to settle into your new home and local area.

Of course, getting properly set up in your new home can come with its own set of admin headaches: broadband, council tax and insurance, to name a few. And that’s where our Home Setup Service comes in. Here at Just Move In, we can save you bucket loads of time, stress and cash, and since we only use 100% renewable energy and recommend sustainable suppliers, you’ll be doing your bit for the planet, too.