Prepare your property for sale before Christmas

Decking the halls can delay your sale by months. Before you get carried away with festivities, read our guide to preparing your property for sale before Christmas.

We all love a bit of festive cheer, but if you’re planning to move in the coming months, put that tinsel down!

Clean, clear staging and great photography are what sell properties. And while Christmas trees give us the warm and fuzzies, they don’t do anything for your property pics. 

As soon as the snow spray and fairy lights are out, there goes your opportunity to take photographs that present your property in its best light. Christmas clutter can prevent buyers from being able to visualise the space clearly, so decking the halls can be offputting, and delay your sale by weeks or even months! It pays to be patient now, so you don’t have to be patient later. Here’s how you can get ahead of the curve and prepare your property for sale this winter.

1. Declutter

It’s not just Christmas decorations that can prevent buyers from seeing the true potential of your property. Personal items may not be to buyers’ tastes and can distract from the shape, size and opportunity your property provides. 

Buyers should be able to see how their life (not yours) will fit into the space, so take down family photos, children’s toys, or anything that feels too personal.

To keep rooms looking spacious, remove any furniture that’s too bulky or anything that’s unnecessary and leave only the essentials, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. 

2. Deep clean

Sparkling surfaces and crystal clear windows make your property look cared for and well-maintained. 

Pay attention to shelves, tables, and light fixtures and use a bit of polish to spruce up wooden surfaces. Clean all of your floors and give your kitchen and bathrooms a thorough shine-up. It will show up in the photography, helping your property look at its best. 

3. Boost kerb appeal

The exterior of the property is usually the first thing that people see in pictures and when they visit a property, so it’s important it gives a good impression. Even in the winter months a lot can be done to spruce up the outside of your property. 

Pruning and clearing away dead leaves, sweeping paths and removing any weeds will provide an instant boost. Going the extra mile by pressure-washing driveways, patios and paths will always be worthwhile.  

Cleaning your windows, polishing door furniture such as knobs and handles and replacing the old doormat will provide a welcoming appearance as well as adding confidence to buyers that the house is well looked after.  

4. Fix small issues

Chipped paint, dirty grout, falling curtains - all of the little issues that you have been ignoring for months (or years) won’t go unseen by buyers. Details matter, so get the screwdriver out and fix all of the small issues to present your property in full working order. (While you’re at it, get out the WD40 and fix those squeaky doors ahead of any viewings.)

5. Stage strategically

Staging has become an increasingly common expectation for buyers, allowing them to see the property at its best. There are several ways to stage: 

1. do it yourself, 
2. hire a professional, or 
3. use virtual staging software. 

There are benefits to each, so you may want to request advice on the best route to take (call our office to speak to one of our team). 

If you’re planning on staging yourself, you can start by replacing family photos with artwork, add plants in place of other clutter, open blinds and curtains to maximise natural light and if necessary, turn on lamps for a homely feel. Decor should be kept as neutral as possible to appeal to the widest audience. 

Most importantly, before you’ve written your letter to Santa, drop a message to us to get the best advice possible on selling your property this winter.