If you’re preparing to sell your property this year, then you might be unsure about what you need to do beforehand.

Don’t fret, we’re here with a list of top tips to help get you ready to show off your property.

Create a good first impression

Remember that the first impressions of your home are essential during a sale.

With that in mind, making sure your home’s exterior is visually appealing and attractive will be your biggest priority in preparation for listing.

We’d strongly recommend that you take the following into consideration:

• Clean your windows, it’ll be easy to notice if you haven’t!
• Give your front door a lick of paint to freshen it up and make your entrance feel more welcoming, you can easily do this by replacing the doormat if yours is looking a little tired.
• Tidy up your hall by removing any post.
• Remove weeds from your path and tidy your garden.
• Make space on your driveway for visitors to park.

 

 

Upping your presentation

 

It is also important to ensure your home’s interior is presented in its best possible light, as this will provide buyers with a vital opportunity to picture how they will fit into the living space.

 

• A simple suggestion, but one which can have a massive impact, is to declutter. Removing large bulky items from view will help maximise your home’s space.
• Let in the light by keeping the curtains open, windows clean and any natural sources of light clear to give your home as bright a feel as possible.
• Make sure all rooms are heated prior to viewings, even those you don’t use often, to provide your home with a cosy feel during the winter months.
• Keep your bathroom and toilets clean, free of mould and tidy, and make sure your toiletries are kept to a minimum.

 

Time-consuming as it may seem, keeping your home organised and welcoming will put you in good stead for when the viewings start.

 

Remember; visitors need to be able to imagine themselves in your home!

 

For further guidance on selling your home, contact our expert agents today.

 

As a landlord, it is a legal responsibility as well as a moral obligation to make sure your tenants feel safe in your property. 

Additionally, emergency property issues are costing landlords billions every year, according to research from Direct Line. 

For both the reasons above, it is important to help prevent the need for emergency callouts and issues – where possible.

The most common issue for landlords to fix is plumbing, closely followed by gas or heating.

Thankfully, on average, plumbers have the best arrival time out of all contractors, with a typical response time of 13 hours from first contact, whilst gas and heating engineers take a little longer to respond at 21 hours. 

We've provided a few useful tips, which should go a long way to preventing these problems.
 
1) Clean your pipes often

Hair, grease and other gunk can build up in your drains over time, potentially causing a blockage. 

Using a non-corrosive drain cleaner is a great idea to clear the grime in your pipes. 

 
2) Annually service your boiler

Whilst it might sound unnecessary to have your boiler checked every year, a qualified heating engineer will be able to spot minor issues that need fixing before the situation escalates. 

3) Insulate your pipes

During winter, it’s important to ensure your pipes don’t freeze, as this could cause them to burst. 

Insulation can be cheaply purchased from many DIY stores and is easy to install. 

 
4) Check your fuse box is in date

It is easy to forget about your fuse boxes, however, they contain essential features that prevent electrical faults and fires. 

If your fuse box is close to expiring, hire a qualified electrician to ensure the property is safe. 

 
5) Change the smoke alarm batteries

Whilst this isn’t an issue that requires an emergency contractor, it could require the emergency services if left neglected. 

Smoke alarms are crucial to alerting people in the property of a potential fire and could be the difference between life and death. 

Batteries are cheap to buy and easy to install, making it a simple job to protect your tenants and your property. 

For any questions about our services for landlords, get in touch from our website.