Prepare your property for photography and viewings

Prepare your property for photography and viewings

Just like first impressions count, kerb appeal for a property for sale is also essential!

Why? Because you want a potential buyer to get the right feeling from the very start. If your house looks unloved, even those with imagination won’t be able to see past the clutter and the grime.

After all, you’re trying to sell your home in Camberley, Chobham Fleet and Yateley and move on to somewhere new, so of course you want people to like your house and put an offer in sooner rather than later. As a local estate agent for over 25 years, we have seen thousands of properties and we can state with confidence that a well presented home sells much faster.
 

What is most important to house hunters?

Three quarters (75%) of buyers said a floor plan was very important when searching for a property, according to the 2020 Property Academy Home Moving Trends Survey analysed by Dataloft. Quality of photographs (55%), description (52%) and number of photographs (50%) were also very important in a property search.

So, what can you do to prepare your home for the arrival of the property photographer and viewers?

Remember the photos taken of your property will be online for all to see and this is where the very first impression of a potential buyer is formed. You can really help generate online interest in your home by following our tips before your photographer arrives. Once you’ve done all the hard work for the photoshoot, you just need to lightly spruce things up for the viewings that follow.

Here are our tips for preparing your home

De-clutter

There is nothing worse than going to view a property, only to open the front door and find the home is full of clutter. Okay, it might be family favourite toys, pictures and mementoes, but you must realise that prospective buyers want to see the house. They’re not interested in your knick-knacks, no matter how much you love them! Seeing piles of bits and bobs will simply put them in the wrong frame of mind and they won’t be able to envisage themselves living in the property themselves.

Tip: As you will be moving house anyway, take the opportunity to box things up and store them away, or get rid of unwanted items. If you’re downsizing, it’s a perfect time to get rid of the clutter.
 

Pet Hates

You love your cat or your dog. In fact, they are part of your family. However, prospective buyers coming to look around your house may not like pets or could even be allergic to them. It sounds harsh, but it is best if you can get a friend or a neighbour to look after your pet for an hour or two.

Tip: Give your house a good clean and light a scented candle before a visit by a prospective buyer. It will really help get rid of the smell of a cat or dog. Put away pet beds and toys before the viewer or photographer arrives.
 

Centre on the Garden

If you have got a front garden, tidy it up and make sure the grass is cut or the hedge has been given a trim. First impressions matter so take the time and effort to get it right. If you have children, tidy away all their toys and really show off the outdoor space your property provides.

Tip: Set the scene; if it’s nice and sunny, be sure to dress the garden furniture with cushions and throws so that the garden looks inviting.
 

Smells of the Season

Because you are in your home day in day out, you may be blind to the smells of your house. Using diffusers and scented candles sensibly will help make it smell nice for a potential buyer.

Tip: Think about the seasons. If it’s winter, choose a fragrance that ties in with the time of year. Try spiced fruits or cinnamon in Winter and floral fragrances during the Spring .
 

Bathroom Routine

Your bathroom is key to making a good impression. There’s nothing worse than a dirty, smelly bathroom for making people think that a house is unloved. As a very functional room, it can look tired very quickly.

Tip: Give everything a deep clean and present your bathroom well with folded towels and some flowers or a house plant placed on the windowsill. Store all the soaps, gels and toiletries away in cupboards so it doesn’t look cluttered.
 

Space Invaders

Space is often at a premium, so help the potential buyer realise just how much they will be getting if they purchase your property. Is your furniture making a room look small? Are there too many toys or books lying around?

Tip: Take a moment to look at a room and put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. If you think a room looks too busy, it might be time to rearrange the chairs or bookshelves. Make the main rooms in the house look as spacious as possible.
 

Stage it Right

Staging isn’t just for theatre. Make a lasting impression by making your house look good. Put fruit in a bowl, flowers in vases, place a home decor magazine on a side table. Don’t forget you are selling your house and a lifestyle, so make it look it’s best in every way possible!

Tip: Have a look at a homeware, furniture or home decoration shop or their website as they are experts when it comes to staging room scenes. You could also look at photos of some of our new build show homes for inspiration: click here.
 

Selling your Surrey, Hampshire or Berkshire home

At Waterfords Estate Agents, we have over 25 years experience of selling homes in Camberley, Chobham, Fleet and Yateley. So, if you need some advice on preparing your property for sale, do call us on 01252 235348 or email contact.centre@waterfords.co.uk. We aim to take the stress out of moving house for everyone involved.