29 things that will make buyers fall in love with your home

Tricks of the property trade

It's no secret that selling your home can be a real slog – it can take months, or even years, to find the right buyer. We've brought together top advice and tactics from realtors and other property industry insiders to help you get your home off the market as quickly as possible, at the best possible price.

Click or scroll through the gallery for expert advice to sell your home fast...

Make sure your house has curb appeal

While they say never judge a book by its cover, in this instance first impressions DO count.

Joy Aumann, Founder of LuxurySocCalRealty, says: "Buyers want a home that feels move-in ready. Simple updates like a fresh coat of paint, swapping out old fixtures, and deep cleaning can make a massive difference. Curb appeal matters too – tidy landscaping makes a home feel well cared for. When buyers see a home that looks well-maintained, they feel more confident making a strong offer, which leads to a faster and better sale." 

Add a fresh lick of paint

And it's not just the outside that needs to appeal to potential buyers. You may not want to spend time decorating a house you no longer want to live in, but it will make a significant difference to the way others perceive it.

Licensed realtor and senior contributor at VirtualStaging.com, Judi Kutner says: "A home that looks move-in ready gets more offers, period. I’ve worked with sellers who struggled for months, then made a few changes and saw their listings go under contract in days. The small details matter, but sometimes the unconventional tricks make the biggest difference."

Consider selling your home by auction

According to The National Association of Realtors, auctions can accelerate a sale, and they also have key benefits for sellers, including higher visibility among pre-qualified buyers who are ready to buy. An auction also cuts out the need for staging, showings, or open houses, plus they can reduce the long-term carrying costs, such as property taxes and ongoing maintenance. 

Crucially, the greater competition among buyers can also lead to a sale price higher than market value. Other benefits are the elimination of stressful negotiation processes and less uncertainty about when your home will sell.

Get all your paperwork in order

Whether you are selling at auction or taking the more traditional route, all homeowners know that you don't want anything to slow down the process. 

To this end, make sure you have all your paperwork in order. From records on upgrades and additions to the deed to your house, it pays to have everything to hand. According to Redfin, if the home you’re selling is currently part of an HOA, you may have additional real estate paperwork to gather, which could include Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs).

Host an open house

Hosting an open house can expose your property to a large pool of potential buyers at once, but Mishantha Liyanage of property investment company Mistoria Group says it's crucial you select the right estate agent to partner with to ensure the best calibre of potential buyers.

"Aim to partner with a knowledgeable real estate agent who has a strong track record of selling properties quickly in your area," he advises. 

Consider buyer motivation

As you prepare to put your home on the market, think about things that might prevent the sale from falling through further down the line, such as how invested the buyer is.

Lorna du Sautoy, Partner at the property law firm Broadfield says these things should go beyond whether or not they can afford the property: "Consider the motivation of prospective buyers and the reasons why they may be interested in your property," she says.

"A buyer who believes that they have found their ‘forever home’ is much more focused than a developer who is simply looking for a new project."

Declutter everywhere

Interior designer, Ann Marie Cousins, owner of AMC Design, says that a cluttered house is not only distracting to viewers, but may also highlight some of the pitfalls in your home.

"It plants seeds of doubt in buyers’ minds about a lack of storage. A tidy home portrays a calm and organized setting, which is exactly what you want to be shown when people walk through the door," she says.

"Try and encourage your whole family to get on board with the de-clutter plan by each selecting three things you wish to keep in each room, the rest needs to be stored away for viewing days."

But don’t depersonalize

While it’s important to make sure your house is spacious and lacks clutter, it’s also important not to completely depersonalize it. 

Anne Marie says: “Prospective buyers want to see your home and will appreciate a well loved and cared-for space. I often see houses for sale which have been so stripped back, they lose the personality of the property all together. Be aware of a good balance as people want to see an authentic home." 

Add a large mirror

Another great idea for opening up a room and creating the illusion of space is to add mirrors. 

Judi Kutner says: "It’s not just about making a room look bigger – it’s about bouncing light and making spaces feel more open," she says.

"I’ve worked with sellers who put a mirror at the end of a hallway or near a window, and suddenly the whole home felt brighter and more inviting. Buyers always say they want more natural light. This is a way to create that feeling, even if the home doesn’t have huge windows."

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Clean until it sparkles

A dirty house isn't a welcoming sight, and it certainly won't help prospective buyers envisage themselves living in your house. Rid your home of limescale, clean and repair tile grout, wax the floors, and dust the baseboards. Your home should be ship-shape before any viewers cross the threshold.

Don't go overboard on the kitchen

A homeowner can spend thousands making over their kitchen before their property hits the market, but it's not always money well spent.

There's no guarantee that the kitchen design you opt for will be the buyer's cup of tea – that shiny new kitchen could well be ripped out once the sale goes through. While a large, bright kitchen can sell a house, it's not worth renovating it before a sale and in the time spent finding a contractor to complete the work, your property could've already been on the market.

Dress the table

Remember, you're not just selling a home, you're selling a lifestyle, so take the time to perfect the details. Lay the table with your best crockery and glasses, and some candles or a pretty vase of flowers. Potential buyers need to be able to see themselves living in your home.

Flowers, flowers, flowers

In the same way a hanging basket improves the entrance to the house, fresh flowers on the table will brighten up the rest of the house. Keep them simple and classic – don’t go overboard as it won’t look natural. 

Make sure the windows are in good condition

While double glazing is appealing to buyers, single-glazed windows are fine as long as they look like they’re in a decent condition. If windows aren’t painted properly and are flaking, people will immediately think they are an extra expense.

Andy Simms of MyBuilder says: "Tired looking window frames can betray a general lack of care for your home, and be quite off putting, while rotting sealant on UPVC can cause condensation or invite mold." 

Eliminate big expenses

On that note, try to remove as many extra expenses as possible. Unless a buyer is looking for a bargain to renovate, a house can easily lose appeal if the list of extra expenses is long. If there's any damage to the walls, make sure you repair it, or perhaps you could leave behind your old appliances for the new homeowner.

Clear the garage

A garage has the potential to be converted into another room. Without doing this yourself, just clear the garage and keep it car-free (as long as you have a drive) to show what space is available for a potential garage conversion.

Light a fire

If your viewing is on a cold evening, put on the fire or switch on some mood lighting. Ambience creates a much homelier setting, and when it's dark outside, a fire or a low lamp will make the house feel a lot cozier than having all of the main lights on.

Get rid of bad smells

Nobody wants to walk into a house with bad smells. Don’t just cover them up, though. Find the root cause of the problem: clean bins and clear drains if there are any funky smells coming from them. Air fresheners might smell nice, but they won’t get rid of the odor altogether.

Add homely scents

Conversely, adding nice smells can make a property feel like home. While baking bread every time you have a viewing might be a tad excessive, you could light a scented candle or perhaps brew some fresh coffee.  

Curate your home carefully

Interiors expert Liv Conlon, who stages hundreds of houses each year through her business ThePropertyStagers says that if an item can be used, it shouldn’t make the surface. "For example, all coffee tables, console tables and kitchen worktops should be styled, not cluttered with day-to-day items especially when you have people viewing your home," she says.

"Carefully select and place accessories that enhance the style and ambiance of your home. Remove clutter and items that are not aesthetically pleasing, and focus on showcasing a curated collection of decor pieces that complement the overall design scheme." 

Spruce up your backyard

Pruning hedges and tidying up the lawn can go a long way to making your home more sellable. 

Add a table and chairs so buyers can really imagine kicking back and unwinding in the sun or enjoying evenings outdoors. Outdoor space is highly desirable, so a garden revamp is worth considering.

Freshen up soft furnishings

It's the little things that matter and seeing limp bobbled cushions won't create the lustworthy appeal you're going for.

Liv Conlon says instead they leave a home looking tired, and not looked after properly, so suggests updating any that are past their best: "Choose fabrics and textures that complement the overall aesthetic of the space and enhance its appeal. The rule with soft furnishings is to use them in pairs of two or three and vary them in size. Add synthetic feather inserts to achieve our signature cushion chop. If you want to add value to your home, it’s all about creating a luxurious vibe!"

Create off-street parking

Some home hunters can be turned off by a lack of parking.

If you have a large garden at the front of your house, consider converting some of it into a driveway. According to HomeGuide, the average cost to build a two-car driveway is $1,700 to $6,900 for materials and installation. It could up your property's price tag and help it get snapped up sooner. 

Consider getting a pet sitter

As much as you love your cat or dog, not everybody will feel the same way. If a potential buyer is scared of dogs, being greeted at the door with loud barking and the smell of wet dog isn’t going to make the house seem very enticing – ask your neighbor to keep an eye on it for the time being.

Be flexible

While making your house look good will go a long way, it’s also important to be flexible with timings. The more viewings you have, the more chance you have of a quicker sale. Be flexible with when people can come over, even if that does mean an evening viewing after a long day at work. It will be worth it in the long run.

Start packing before you’ve sold

Decluttering is easier when you’ve already started packing up. Start putting things in boxes and store them in the attic or at your neighbor’s house if need be. This will free up space, keep things minimalistic, and speed up your moving process too.

Put every space to use

People viewing your property will want to see that areas are lived in, and what they’re capable of being used for. 

Turn a neglected spare room into a study for the time being, an empty dining room into a second living room. or even a spare room into a workout area or relaxation room to really show off your home's potential. 

Sell your neighborhood

A survey conducted by Trulia and Harris Interactive found that for 84% of home buyers, location was equally, if not more important, than the home itself. During a viewing, pitch your neighborhood, highlight the local amenities and transport links, and drop in information about the local parks, schools, and community ethos.

Set a realistic asking price

When it comes to settling on an asking price, don't push your luck too much. Decide on a realistic figure based on the valuation given to you by your agent. If the price is too high, you're unlikely to get many viewings, and chances are, you'll have to make reductions in the future anyway.

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