House about to go on the market. Any useful tips?

I hope it all goes well Grammaretto
🙏

I have just sold a house. Luckily it was to a cash buyer. Four months and a lot of money was originally wasted, because the first lot of buyers lied to their mortgage lenders. When the mortgage lenders found out, they dropped them. Then the buyers couldn't get anyone else to lend them sufficient money. So we lost them. Meanwhile, we had racked up a few thousand pounds in conveyancing fees. That was so annoying and unnescessary.
So make sure your EA does their "due diligence" (ours didn't) and the prospective buyers' finances are properly checked out before you go ahead and accept their offer!

I downsized last year. My estate agent recommended that he conducted the viewings. I was happy to take his advice.

I returned 15 mins earlier than the suggested time and parked behind my house while I waited for his text to say the 3 sets of viewers had left. I did find it rather disconcerting to sit in the car facing the rear of my house and see total strangers looking out of my bedroom window!

Thanks to all the well wishers.
A bad start as I missed 2 phone calls. My phone was on silent.
I've been at work all morning and managed to drop a cake on the floor.!

I hope your day improved in the afternoon Grammaretto. Good luck with your house .

The house now won't go live until Monday.
It's my solicitor who's doing the sale and any viewings. They are closed this weekend.

He's optimistic.

I had 2 guys from the Mens' Shed down today to see if some of my old tools could be restored and resold.
They only took 2 things.
Apparently no-one is interested in any tools which are old or worse, have electric leads.
All people want are the latest battery operated tools. 😲

We downsized at the end of last year and our estate agent did all the viewings. We went to a nearby cafe and as we had a camera by the front door we were able to see all the comings and goings on DH's phone. The estate agent knew we watched - it helped them not to have to call us once they'd left and we could go home. It was all a bit surreal seeing strangers going into our house while we weren't there! Interesting watching the body language and the varying lengths of the viewings.

Ooh Joy, that's very 21st century. I couldn't do that. I don't think I want to see who comes. There'll be people who are merely curious although I'm assured that they'll be carefully filtered. 😉

I'm going away for a few days but will help with viewings when I am back.

The garden is tidy at the front but a jungle at the back.

Grammaretto It was a bit disconcerting at times! Didn't fancy some of them poking around the precious family home we'd lived in for over 30 years without our being there to protect and defend it.

I would let the agent sell , clear photo's and personal stuff away.
We sold recently and the agent had a lady come in and arrange the rooms to appeal.
He did the viewings.

Thnaks to those who made suggestions. The house is on a 1970s/1980s estate so although our plot is generous for the time it isnt huge enough for more than one property.

Unfortunately we are hoping to move to a bungalow near one of our DDs and her area is more costly than here - a smallish bungalow with lounge, small diner and kitchen and one bathroom sells for more than the likely asking price for ours. Due to DHs disabilities we would probably have to do alterations as well. So I'd like to get the maximum possible from the sale of ours.

Grammaretto

People do not want tools with leads on for very good reasons. You have to a plug nearby to plug them into, and that often means long leads trailing around house and garden, leads can trip people up, in the garden they often get cut by accident and if you have a long garden you need a lead 100 feet lngor more.

Battery powered tools are as toteable as hand tools, can get put into small spaces. i am just off to strim parts of the garden before it gets too hot. battery powered strimmer, no leads over my shoulder, as we have two side gardens rather than a back garden no winding up and moving the lead, finding somewhere else to plug it in.

It's been advertised since Monday but only goes on Rightmove tomorrow.
Only one arrangement to view so far!
I think I expected more interest.
My friends say that the brochure is good but I wonder.
Here am I, awake at 3am worrying.

Think it went on Rightmove yesterday.

You're right OldFrill. 😲

Here's my tip: don't build up your hopes too high with each viewing nor believe the effusive comments of viewers as they go round - that way lies madness!

Luckygirl3

Here's my tip: don't build up your hopes too high with each viewing nor believe the effusive comments of viewers as they go round - that way lies madness!

Yep, having sold many houses we have a saying “ buyers are liars”.

From the experience of both daughters being in the midst of house and flat purchases.

Please make sure you have all paperwork relating to things like repairs, boilers, electricity, damp courses, extensions etc etc.

I know this comes AFTER you’ve found your buyer but delays in these areas have caused both daughters delays and distress, both daughters paid for full level 3 surveys as both houses are over 100 years old and it’s been really eye opening to realise how little attention some vendors spend on getting boilers serviced etc.

Good luck.

Grammaretto

It's been advertised since Monday but only goes on Rightmove tomorrow.
Only one arrangement to view so far!
I think I expected more interest.
My friends say that the brochure is good but I wonder.
Here am I, awake at 3am worrying.

Please don’t worry, sadly for sellers it’s definitely a buyers market.

You’ll get interest and it does take time.

Sago

Luckygirl3

Here's my tip: don't build up your hopes too high with each viewing nor believe the effusive comments of viewers as they go round - that way lies madness!

Yep, having sold many houses we have a saying “ buyers are liars”.

I’m with you on that comment and so are estate agents. Solicitors can be flexible in what they tell you, as well.
During a particularly frenzied house buying period, I ‘sold’ our London house 6 times! 5 of them to liars. Hopefully, I can spot just about every buyer’s lie now.

Madmeg

We need to move from our 5-bed, 5 downstaairs rooms plus bathrooms/utility room - a good-size family house. DH is now quite disabled and we need a small bungalow. But we have 45-years worth of clutter everywhere and it all needs redecorating and we simply can't manage it. Last week I flooded the en-suite and the water cascaded through the hall lights (3 lots) and the hall carpet is now badly stained. The front porch is gravely in need of new decor and flooring too, so the entrance isn't the best.

We accept that it won't fetch top price but worry as to how much lower than "norm" it will be, as bungalows are not cheap to buy at all. Maybe more important is how long it will take to find a buyer, as our need to move is pretty urgent - DH has a "hospital" bed in the lounge (the best room in the house) plus commode and wheelchair and other equipment which we clearly can't move. The garden isn't great shakes either (but a good size). The garage is a dump as well. I simply can't imagine managing to improve it much at all.

Any advice gratefully received.

Only my full empathy.

We’ve been in our three storey Edwardian mid terrace for 38 years and soooooo much “stuff”.

As we don’t plan to downsize til next year I’m (attempting) to de-clutter, doing a little each day!

It’s a thankless task and good luck!

When I sold my DM house in 2024 I was advised by our EA simply to tidy and clean (it was both) and not worry about anything else as most buyers will tear everything apart, refurb and redecorate across the course of their first year.

I took their advice and all went well to a degree, I left the EA to do the viewings and had a buyer, who pulled out, then a second who didn’t have a mortgage in principal, finally buyer number three went ahead and all went pretty smoothly.

Cossy

Grammaretto

It's been advertised since Monday but only goes on Rightmove tomorrow.
Only one arrangement to view so far!
I think I expected more interest.
My friends say that the brochure is good but I wonder.
Here am I, awake at 3am worrying.

Please don’t worry, sadly for sellers it’s definitely a buyers market.

You’ll get interest and it does take time.

I think the op is in Scotland?[I might have got that wrong and got that muddled with a different poster].
Where things are different?
And prices are keeping up?

But I agree it will come down to price eventually. I would have thought.

Yes it's Scotland.
I have made an offer on another house dependant on my being at least in the process of selling this one.

Well I think houses (such as mine) where every room is stuffed, where we live (in my case) with 1000s of books, 100s of kg of yarn and lots of "craft based equipment" etc will attract a special sort of buyer.

I an trying to thin stuff out but still have packing cases of stuff from my mother's house too.
I would say I have three "decent" - even "beautiful" rooms but it's a huge job getting the others ready for market.
Mine is only mid-terrace but 3 storeys and messy! 2 rooms need replastering - and the hall stairs landing (and one other) needs a skim.

Good for you Grammaretto for just getting your home on the market. I know someone with a vision will come along and love it as you do.

As others have said, a very clean house always feels more attractive - don't forget windows.

If you have quite a lot of furniture in your sitting room and if you are able to, store some of it away or at least move it into a room (maybe a loft room) that isn't that important, this will make the room seem much more spacious.

A few attractive items are nice but not lots of clutter and personal memorabilia.

Remove all or most photos and bits and pieces.