Making a good first impression when preparing your house for viewing can significantly increase the chances of a swift and successful sale.
First impressions matter a lot, especially when it comes to major life decisions like buying a home!
Ensuring that your house appeals to potential buyers from the outset is crucial when you prepare your house for a viewing.
While some buyers might be willing to invest in a property with good ‘potential,’ presenting a strong first impression will only boost your prospects.
With this in mind, there are numerous things you can do to prepare your house for a viewing.
This article aims to help you with practical and effective steps that will leave a lasting impact on potential buyers.
Here are 9 essential tips to help you prepare your house to make the best possible first impression!
1. Preparing for the Viewing
Before the actual viewing day, break down the tasks into manageable steps.
Some actions can be taken well in advance, while others can be left for the viewing day itself.
This preparation stage is crucial for attracting interest in your property.
While these steps may seem straightforward, the impact they can make is often surprising so try not to avoid them!
2. Make a Good First Impression with High-Quality Photos
Moving forward with our list of top tips, let’s discuss the importance of taking excellent photos of your home.
First impressions count, and the images potential buyers see online are often their very first glimpse of your property.
Make sure that the estate agent you select uses a professional photographer to take high-quality pictures.
Professional images can highlight your property’s best features, using the right lighting and angles to create an appealing presentation.
Properties with professional photos typically sell faster and often for a higher price compared to those without.
This initial investment can set your home apart from the competition and draw more interest from serious buyers.
3. Include a Detailed Floor Plan
Including a detailed floor plan in your listing is essential, yet often overlooked by many people listing their property for sale!
Floor plans allow potential buyers to get an accurate understanding of your home’s layout, helping them to visualise the space and flow of the property.
Make sure your estate agent includes floor plans on their website and property listings.
This small addition can pique buyers’ interest and provide a better sense of the scale and possibilities of the space, which could in turn make them more likely to want to view your property.
4. Video House Tour
Clearly, a good first impression is crucial when selling your house, and video tours are another excellent tool to help this!
Video house tours have become a popular tool for showcasing properties, especially since the pandemic.
A well-conducted video tour can offer potential buyers a realistic insight into what your home is truly like, allowing them to explore the space without even stepping foot inside.
This not only helps make a good first impression but also saves time for both buyers and sellers.
Not including a video tour might mean missing out on potential viewings, as buyers increasingly prefer this method of property viewing – these are particularly good at creating the best possible first impression as buyers feel like they can get a true understanding of your space.
As with any viewing, virtual house tours will require that your home is presentable – we would recommend following the tips we are discussing on the day that the video tour is filmed!
You could even check out some of the video tours that other properties have on their listings to get a good idea of what is needed.
5. On Viewing Day
You’ve attracted interest and now it’s time for the actual viewing. Here are some tips to prepare your house on the day:
Declutter and Clean
Ensure all rooms are tidy and free of unnecessary clutter.
This will make spaces look larger and more inviting.
A clean and well-organised home gives the impression of being well-maintained and cared for.
Maximise Natural Light
Open curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible.
A well-lit room feels fresh and spacious, making it more appealing to buyers.
Temperature Control
Make sure your home is at a comfortable temperature.
If it’s a cold day, light a fire or turn on the heating to make your home feel cosy and welcoming.
6. The Exterior of Your Home
One of the most crucial aspects of making a strong first impression when selling your house is the exterior of your property.
A well-kept exterior can help maintain the value of your property and increase interest from potential purchasers.
We like to think of your property’s exterior as advertising.
The outside of your house is the first and final thing prospective buyers will see during a viewing.
It’s therefore crucial that the outside of your home leaves an excellent impression on potential buyers.
Here are some key things to consider for the exterior of your house:
- Is anything broken that needs to be fixed?
- Are the bins out of sight?
- Do your plants or grass need trimming?
- Could the front door use a new coat of paint?
- Do the windows need to be cleaned?
7. Entering the House
Once potential buyers step inside, they need to feel that they can see themselves living there.
A welcoming entrance and pleasant interior ambience are key but be sure to also keep these top tips in mind:
- Remove clutter such as shoes, coats, and mail from the entrance.
- Consider a quick paint touch-up if there are noticeable scuffs or marks on the walls.
- Add a few touches of décor like fresh flowers to enhance the welcoming feel.
8. Make Sure Your House Smells Nice
Believe it or not, the smell of your home is surprisingly a crucial factor in the initial impression people will have!
Unpleasant odours can easily make potential buyers feel extremely uneasy in your home.
When a home has unpleasant odours, people can be seriously discouraged from buying.
These bad smells could lead them to assume that the property is not well maintained!
You are setting yourself up very well if you follow some of these simple steps to make sure your house smells excellent.
Whether you believe there are unpleasant odours in your home or not, we advise you to take the following into account:
- Let some fresh air in by opening the windows
- Use either diffusers or air fresheners before the viewing
- Empty your bins before every viewing
- If you have pets, clean their beds/cages and get rid of any food
- Make sure you have a spring clean before each viewing
9. Last-Minute Tips to Prepare Your House for a Viewing
Even after following all these steps, there are a few last-minute things to consider that can really make a difference:
- Add Fresh Flowers: A bouquet of fresh flowers can brighten up any room and add a touch of elegance.
- Remove Pets and Children: If possible, arrange for pets and children to be elsewhere during the viewing to minimise distractions and allow buyers to focus on the property.
- Move Your Car: If you have a car parked outside, consider moving it to show potential buyers the available parking space.
- Final Cleaning Touches: Quickly wipe down surfaces, hoover the floors, and change bed sheets. Fresh bed linen can enhance both the look and smell of bedrooms.
Choose R.H Pardy for a Stress-Free Move
There are clearly plenty of things to consider when you prepare your house for a viewing and we really hope that these tips help you on the journey of successfully selling your home.
Whether you are in the process of selling your home or are already ready to move we are here to help!
As a professional moving company with years of experience, we know that house moves require lots of planning.
However, there is no need to be daunted.
Ensuring you have the help of a trustworthy and knowledgeable removals company when moving home is essential.
R.H Pardy Moving & Storage Limited can assist you with every aspect of your move.
Our specialist team can guide you throughout every aspect of your move.
For added assurance, you will have the knowledge that you are dealing with a member of the British Association of Removers.
For more information about our removals to Wimborne services, be sure to give us a call today at 01202499390, or fill out our quick and easy contact form here.
A member of our team will be more than happy to help you get your move started in no time!
