Tips for Creating House Viewings That Attract Offers
The goal of a viewing is simple: you want the prospective buyer to imagine themselves living in the house. It might feel like you’re hiding the personality of your home, but you’re actually painting a blank canvas onto which a buyer can paint a mental picture of their life – and encourage them to put in an offer!
- Kerb appeal: first impressions matter. Mow the lawn, tidy the drive, clean the windows, or give the door a lick of (neutral) paint. Find out more about improving kerb appeal
- Pet people? Your potential buyer may not own pets, so clear up pet hair, tidy away food bowls and toys.
- A sense of space: remove some furniture to give viewers a sense of how big your rooms are.
- Clean up: from the bath to the oven, give everything a thorough clean. No-one wants to see a grubby oven in their dream home!
- Declutter: remove mountains of toiletries from the bathroom, stacks of clothing from the airing cupboard, piles of kid’s toys from every room.
- Fresh air: open some windows to let in fresh air and clear out any old or stale smells.
- Spruce up your spruces: mow the lawn, tidy the garden, and trim back any bushes, trees, or weeds!
- Consider redecorating: you might love the bold colours or the antique wallpaper, but it might put off buyers. Consider redecorating; the investment could pay dividends!
For more insights into our team has put together a guide to conducting a house viewing.
Why Am I Not Getting Any Viewings and How Can I Get More?
It can be disappointing to put your property on the market and no-one books a viewing. But don’t worry; there’s usually a straightforward reason behind it.
You’re Asking For Too Much
The biggest reason we see for not getting viewings is that the property is priced too high. If you listed it yourself, or your estate agent didn’t discuss the asking price with you, it’s possible that you’ve priced yourself out of consideration.
Take a look at similar properties in your local area and how much they’ve been listed for. Try to be objective; it’s easy to see your home as being worth more than it is!
You’re Not Presenting it Well Enough
It’s easy for you to see your home in the best light, even if the guttering is a little dirty, there’s a little clutter under the stairs, or the photos on your property listing are a little dark.
But for a prospective buyer, all of these things can be off-putting. Each viewing takes time and effort, and they might not be prepared to give you a chance.
A well-presented home will make them eager to arrange that viewing. If you need help with presenting your home, a good estate agent can give you personalised advice to attract more viewings.
You’re Not Being Flexible Enough
You might be tempted to keep viewings to certain times or days to minimise the disruption to your life. But the disruption won’t last forever, while being inflexible can limit the number of viewings you’ll get.
Remember that your property is just one of many on the market. Each viewing is a potential offer, an offer that might be placed on another property while the buyer is wrangling with your schedule. Try to be as flexible as you can; the disruption is temporary.
Why Isn’t My House Selling and What Can I Do About It?
If your property has been on the market for a while and it’s just not selling, it can be both stressful and upsetting. In these circ*mstances, it’s best to ask for help from a professional. They can use their experience of selling houses and their knowledge of the local property market to turn your fortunes around.
We’ve helped over 30,000 customers along their property journey, and we secured 99% of the asking price on average in 2021. Our local estate agent teams can use their experience to help you attract the right buyer, prepare your house for viewings, conduct the viewings for you, and secure the right price for your home.
Speak to our team today to find out how we can help you arrange the viewing that secures the right offer for your home.
