Selling a home is said to be one of the most stressful things homeowners go through, which means setting a property up for viewings correctly is vital. According to Philippa Stewart, Sales Director at David Wilson North West, homeowners are making six “common mistakes” when conducting home viewings for prospective buyers.
1. Not having the correct temperature
The expert explained: “Having the correct temperature is vital when selling a home. If it’s too cold, a prospective buyer probably won’t want to look around for long and will think of reasons to leave quickly.
“Showing them around in a cold building could lead to worries about heating bills and heating up the home during the winter months.
“The same applies when a house is too hot, a future buyer could cut a viewing short because the temperature is uncomfortable. 18C is the perfect temperature for a home according to the World Health Organisation.”
2. Preventing customisation
Buying a new build home is favoured for many reasons, including the ability to see it as a blank canvas.
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Purchasing a home which is already being occupied by a family who have personalised the home with various wallpapers and bright colours is often hard for prospective buyers.
To prevent this “mistake”, the expert recommended making sure all of the walls are of a natural colour.
3. Not disclosing the parking situation
Philippa noted: “Almost all new builds will come with onsite parking whereas an old building might not come with a desired car parking space, and it’s important to disclose this during or ahead of the viewing
“If a prospective new home doesn’t have parking, the buyer will need to have a drive around the area at different times of the day, on both weekdays and weekends to assess parking accessibility.
A cluttered home could also be hazardous when it comes to selling the property and could potentially “devalue the property”.
5. Not being honest about noise
Philippa explained: “Potential buyers might be put off if they hear lots of noise during a viewing. Again, walking around the area at different times and on different days can help a potential buyer gain more insight into how noisy or quiet an area is.
“For example, a Sunday afternoon might be quieter than a Friday evening. A buyer should always ask about the different noise levels, especially from neighbours, schools, local traffic and shops.”
A buyer should also view the home at different times of the day, to find out how noisy the area is as well as to see the different light levels.
6. Not cleaning gardens
Both front and back gardens are important, and could easily put a buyer off if they aren’t well maintained which includes lawns mowed, weeds removed and plenty of plants.
The expert added: “Having an unorganised garden is not only a safety hazard but also makes it difficult for the buyer to visualise its potential.
“Sellers will need to be honest about the work that has been done around the property, and what can versus can’t be done.”
When it comes to selling a home, buyers are looking for a modern, clean and simple approach, according to Philippa.
This includes a seller who is friendly, approachable and able to answer all of the questions needed, which could help speed up the sale of a home.
