How to sell your home at the same time as your neighbours

Upstaging the Joneses

How to sell your home at the same time as your neighbours

You’ve been thinking about selling your home for some time and, just as you’re about to call the estate agent, you notice a ‘For Sale’ sign appear next door.  You knew there would be competition locally with similar properties in the area, but your neighbours!  Before you start to re-think your decision to sell, let us give you some handy tips on how to upstage the Joneses and make your property the star of the street in Chelmsford

Preparation is key

Many people think about selling their home and get an estate agent in without putting in the work first.  An estate agent will give you a valuation based on the current condition of your property, and although a quick clean and tidy will help, you could be missing a big trick.  When you’re selling your home you have to try and emotionally detach yourself from your personal feelings about your property, and start to see it as a house for sale.

When you’re in love with something you can forgive a flaw or two, but flaws don’t attract buyers and they certainly don’t attract strong offers.  You need to be able to see the flaws so you can correct them.  It takes time and energy and, yes, a few pennies to prepare your home for sale, but when you put the work in the results will speak for themselves.

Fresh décor makes a home look loved and cared for. Well-maintained fencing and thoughtful planting can turn even the smallest of outside spaces into a haven to relax.  No matter how you have lived in your home, you have to think about what buyers will be looking for and transform your home to win them over.

Instagrammable

Image counts.  We all make assumptions on first appearances, whether we intend to or not.  As a buyer is swiping through the properties on Rightmove or Zoopla, what will make them click on yours?  What will make a buyer passing by your house stop and do a double take when they see the sign outside your door?  Regardless of what your home offers, you need to make it Instagrammable to grab their attention and make them want to see more.

Recent research by Aspect found that the Instagram appeal even extends to the type of work we are seeking to have undertaken on our home.  Although people have always wanted to keep up with the Joneses, it seems our inspiration is now found online and on social media, we 29% of those questioned stating that Instagram was influencing the work they wanted to do on their property.

As we know, tricks can be used online to enhance the appearance of a property, but you can’t hide the reality when it comes to a viewing.  This is why it’s important to take inspiration from Instagram, should you wish, but ensure that your home stands out for the important reasons.

Attention to detail

You must sweat the small stuff when selling your home, as it can often be those wonderful little details that give buyers butterflies.  Fixing, painting, decluttering, tidying and deep-cleaning inside and out is the least you should be doing; where many sellers go wrong is that they create a space that is sterile and without personality.

A house is just a house; it’s a family that makes it a home, and although you need to downplay your personal touches, you should never take away the warmth.  How can this be achieved?

Think about when you go around a show home or see celebrity homes in magazines; they are clean, tidy and clutter-free, but on the whole they have a welcoming and ‘homely’ feel about them.  There are vases of fresh flowers, a cafetière or tea pot and cups carefully placed in the kitchen, a throw beautifully placed on the bed, and a creative eye when it comes to adding accessories.

Create a home

No matter how you prepare your property for sale, always remember to keep the heart of it on show.  If you put in the work, make it stand out as Instagrammable and always have a keen eye for detail. Then, when your home is placed on the market in Chelmsford you will have created a home that outshines the rest.

If you’re struggle to see how to upstage your home, contact our sales team today on 01245 835859.