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

Grammaretto

Thanks Georgesgran. The brochure has just been sent to me and I have been able to tweak the "blurb" a little.

I would prefer the agent to do viewings. Actually I would prefer to go away and have it sold in my absence 😄 but I don't think that will happen.

DD says I shouldn't show viewers because I'll get upset if they don't love it. 😂

I once went away and the estate agent held one 'open house' viewing, l was far from convinced that would achieve a sale. I was lying beside a pool in Crete when he rang to say l had three offers. It was a very good way to cope with the stress.

When l have shown a house myself I've always just shown a couple of rooms then let the prospective buyers wander round by themselves and ask me any questions afterwards, that's also a good time to articulate the positives so they leave with a positive impression.

It's sometimes hard to tell what prospective buyers feel/think so don't try to double guess. The last house l sold l really didn't think the couple who whizzed round, asked no questions and gave pretty negative feedback to the EA would make the highest offer at closing date, I'd written them off!

Generally speaking the Scottish housing market remains buoyant and l wish you the very best of luck.

We didn’t bother with a video. The EA said they saw no difference between the numbers of viewings and offers according to video/no video. That saved a few hundred quid too.

Retread

We’ve sold 3 properties over the past 20 years, each time I make sure the house is spotless for viewing, and I put fresh flowers in the lounge.

The most recent house we sold the EA said “If only all my sellers did this …”

Same here
In our area all estate agents do the viewings. I thought it was the same everywhere but obviously not.

When I showed the agent around, he was impressed by my knowledge and the photographer wanted me to do a video speil about it!
I resisted. 😂

Floradora 😄 that made me smile. But did you buy the house?.

I was put off a house once by the dreadful wallpaper and the smell of cats.

When looking at house some time ago I was impressed by the people who had put fresh lined on the beds no wrinkles or folds.

I think your historic house will sell itself. The original features will appeal to the viewers who read the brochure / on line info. and know what to expect.

I can't do spotless Retread but I can do flowers ☺️
The garden is blooming.

Grammaretto I think it depends how good you are at it. How well you can 'read' the viewer, tailor what you tell them to what they are looking for and so on. I am a good at selling when I am dealing with people already well disposed to what I have to sell.

My estate agent was very happy with me doing it, but it is a personal thing. Some people would hate doing it, others are not good at it. I enjoyed it

We’ve sold 3 properties over the past 20 years, each time I make sure the house is spotless for viewing, and I put fresh flowers in the lounge.

The most recent house we sold the EA said “If only all my sellers did this …”

Make sure work surfaces are clutter free, beds and bedroom immaculate, clothes put away,bathrooms sparkling. Consider putting unnecessary items that take up too much space into storage. Tidy up the front of the house if that's an issue. First impressions are important in creating a balance between an inviting home with ambiance and a sterile space that could be a waiting room. We sold over 5 and half years ago within a week, the market was fierce at the time before it went into a downward trajectory. Selling a property in many ways is selling a lifestyle package to the buyer they need to know all about the area, local amenities, schools, train station, shopping, sports facilities, parks, entertainment etc. If using an estate agent make sure they include much of that in the particulars, I got mine to rewrite the spec twice, they didn't emphasise some points, they didn't seen to appreciate not all buyers had local, specific knowledge. An open day can be a good idea, have as many people around as possible in one day, when the property is looking its best, take off and leave the estate agents to it. Good luck.

I've moved about a dozen times Grammaretto and always show viewers around myself, I find out from the estate agent their 'wants' before hand so can point out schools, doctors, ect if relevant.
I do go all in on the presentation and switch out all kitchen/bathroom towels, soaps, bins & mats & bits that are on show with new before the viewers arrive.
I put a few extra plants out & leave local theatre/ event brochures lying around.
The longest time for an offer to come in was 2 weeks, but the market seems a little slow at the moment.
Good luck, hope you find what your looking for

I hope the house will sell itself as it's unique and historic and I would love to show people around though there are some bits I'm ashamed of.

Funnily all my nearest neighbours who aren't very near, have changed in the past couple of years and I haven't even met the new ones. I am ashamed of that too.

When we moved here several neighbours invited us in to afternoon tea.

Now that I'm leaving maybe I don't need to?

Yes. A welcoming appearance from the roadside and then immediately inside the front door is a good start. Make it as uncluttered as possible and also avoid cooking smells.

The firm we used to sell our last house charged quite a big fee to show people around so we did it ourselves. Just as well, as we had about fifteen viewings in a week - that would have been pricey!

I felt it was right for us, because I was able to answer lots of questions that an EA wouldn’t know about, like about our village, the neighbours and so on. I quite liked talking to so many people, actually, and we sold to a lovely family.

Oops - just read your latest post.
You’re on it!

I wouldn’t clear away all personal belongings tbh, you want your house to feel inviting and homely.
Obviously make sure the house is clean and tidy, but don’t go too far packing away belongings or you’ll end up with a sterile ‘show home’ look and not something warm and welcoming.
But before you even think about the interior, make sure your home has
‘Curb appeal’ - put some lovely pots outside with a wonderful display of flowers. ( money permitting of course ) Make sure the front door / door step is clean and put away any unsightly wheely bins.
Good luck!

The blurb says excellent transport links and lots of parking.

I have booked a painter to paint the front door. It's an old door and needs proper TLC. The first time he can come is the end of June. It doesn't look too bad and maybe I shouldn't start tarting things up at this stage.
I literally have a week before the house goes "live"

I keep the grass cut. I try to get rid of the cobwebs. There are a few corners I could attend to but at my age I haven't the energy to rush about.

I did wonder about showing people round myself. M0nica. Like you I know and love the history but maybe that's not what everyone is looking for.

Grammeretto
Your last sentance Re the buses. Your estate agent won’t have that knowledge. It could be the clincher on the sale.

Has the agent highlighted the buses? It is one of my top factors in my next move and five buses impresses me more than it probably should!

Kerb appeal, kerb appeal. Make the prospective buyers want to come into your property and look further.
I prefer to show the property myself. I know the building, the neighbours.
Plus I don’t like estate agents 😂 In the same racket as surveyors. I’ve had one too many bad experiences with both.

I agree with all the above except that the market here in Scotland seems to be vibrant.
A house I looked at last Wednesday had gone by Friday. The bored looking agent had 18 viewings booked after mine.

My house will be harder to shift. It needs improving. I'll try to be less anxious but it's hard.
A friend has been trying to sell his gorgeous house with spectacular views and 8 bedrooms for nearly a year. But it's in the countryside, on a fast road and not on a bus route.
Mine is in the town centre with 5 choices of buses within a minute's walk, shops, post office, doctor, dentist etc. why am I selling? I need something smaller and cheaper to run.

Pretty much everything as above.
No towels, bathmats, smelly dish rags or toiletries lying around. I stuff them in the washing machine.
A clear hallway sets the visit off to a good start.

I kind of like showing people round because if they're proper cash buyers, and really interested, you can talk time frames with them there and then, (London market).

Good luck. You never know, selling might be a breeze.

Just have your house as you want it. We have just bought a house where the previous occupant came close to being a hoarder, there were few pictures in the brochure or Rightmove, always a sign the house is a mess. But it did not stop us buying it and two other people offered and later withdrew. But of course that affected the value. But if you want to have the house a mess and take the down valuation that is fine.

Apart from that get the house clean and tidy and relax. The majority of people who do not like your house will not like it for reasons no one can do anything about - because a particular room is too small or too big, that the hall is too big/small, that the garden faces the wrong way.

As for viewing, I did all our viewings and the estate agent was very happy with that. Ours was an old house with 500 years of history, I could answer any uestions viewers asked about the house, village and area. The estate agent always had a feedback session with viewers and they could say any uncomplimentary things they wanted to say to her. She then passed them on to me. There were very few - and again were usually about things that could not be changed, ceiling height in the study and hall, which were low, 2 staircases etc.

But the best thing to do is just relax, getting uptight will not help.

Do remember that the housing market is very slow at the moment and has been for the last 2 years. Your house may be slow to sell. We were on the market for 15 months before we got a buyer, when usually the old timber framed houses along our road were considered highly desireable and sold uickly. The house we bought was on the market for 18 months before we put in an offer.

Yes Doodledog. I did that hiding trick during the photographer's visit. The car, the laundry basket, drawers and my DDs old bedroom which I am using as a glory hole.
Unfortunately there are several things I've hidden which I can't find!!

That's interesting about viewers being able to be more open with the agents.

I've looked at a few houses and I agree.