20th July, 2023

We know that selling your home is incredibly stressful – in fact, it’s widely considered to be one of the most stressful events that you’ll experience in your life. And as interest rates and household bills continue to rise thanks to the cost-of-living-crisis, it’s more important than ever to make sure that you’re properly showing off your home.

So, to help you have a smooth sale, we’ve rounded up some common home-selling mistakes that can be avoided just as easily as they can put buyers off…

Using bad photos, or not providing enough photos, on your listing

According to the 2022 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 95% of all buyers use the internet to search for their new home, so you want to make sure that your listing is going to stand out amongst the crowd.

Capture your photos during the day so that you can take advantage of natural light to get bright, high-quality photos. Also, keep in mind that potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in the property, so the likes of a wide-angled lens can help them to get a better idea of the space available. If you really want to kick it up a notch, you could even include a video walk-through.

Not clearing away clutter

When a potential buyer is viewing your home, the last thing they want to see is clutter all over the place – as we’ve already mentioned, they want to be able to imagine themselves in there with their own belongings.

Clutter can also make your home feel smaller and more crowded, so keeping it clean and clutter-free can help to open up the space.

Underestimating the importance of first impressions

By first impressions, we mean your front garden. Have you ever walked past a messy, unkempt front garden and automatically assumed that inside the house must be just as messy? We’re all guilty of it.

It’s important to remember that a potential buyer will start judging your house before they’ve even walked through the door, and first impressions can often make or break a sale. So, don’t neglect the upkeep of your front garden if you want to impress viewers from the very beginning.

Not making viewers aware of the parking situation

Speaking of first impressions – if a potential buyer turns up at your property and the first thing they notice is how difficult it is to find a parking space, this isn’t a good sign.

So, whether you have a driveway with ample parking, on-street parking only, or you live in a no-parking zone, be sure to make potential buyers aware so that they can factor this in ahead of time rather than being surprised upon arrival.

Even if the parking situation ultimately leads to them not putting an offer in, at the very least you’ve been a considerate seller.

Not tackling damp and mould

Damp and mould is undoubtedly one of the biggest turn-offs for a potential buyer, especially because mould can indicate various issues within a property, such as a lack of insulation and poor ventilation and heating.

Not to mention that mould can quickly become a health risk if it isn’t taken care off, as well as causing unpleasant, musty smells that nobody wants to be exposed to – especially not a potential buyer.

Being unrealistic when it comes to the price

The truth is that, as a home-seller, you can often be biased when it comes to selling your property and may think that it’s worth more than it actually is. This is normal, especially if you’ve put a lot of work into making the house a home, but sometimes it can lead to unrealistic expectations.

To settle on an appropriate asking price, compare your home to other properties that are similar to yours and properties in your area to find out what the average selling price is. Your estate agent will also help you to find the right price.

Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfect home, so try not to get too stressed over every tiny detail. But by following a few simple tips and tricks, you could find yourself that bit closer to a buyer who thinks your property is the perfect home for them.

Written by: Shannan Errington

*Please note that the above information has been gathered through secondary research. The information provided is not based on our opinion. You should seek further guidance and information before making an informed decision.

Sources:
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/diy-and-decorating/how-to-get-rid-of-damp-185033
https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/selling-house-things-that-put-off-buyers-181923