An estate agent only gets a first impression of your home once. The better it appears on their first visit, the more desirable it may seem to potential buyers. Before an estate agent visits your home, read our top tips on how to get an accurate valuation.
Prepare details about the property
Estate agents don’t show up on your doorstep, walk around, and then tell you a price (despite popular belief). What tends to happen is they ask questions about you and your property before even glancing around the place.
Every agent will have a different strategy, but you should be prepared to answer questions like:
- How much would you like to get for the property?
- Why are you selling?
- Where are you moving to?
- How long have you lived here?
- When do you want to move out?
- Will you be in a chain?
- Are there any major issues with the property?
- What have you recently renovated?
- Will you be open to offers?
To make sure your valuation is as accurate as possible, think about the answers to these questions in advance. It’s a good idea to get an instant online valuation first to see your potential resale range, too.
Open the blinds
The more natural light in a property, the more it can sell for. Our estimates put a property with plenty of natural light up to 7% higher than those without.
Show off your home’s assets by opening the blinds and curtains. Give your windows a quick clean, as removing dust can let more light into your home.
Consider moving any large furnishings away from the window, too, especially if they’re blocking the natural light, like plant pots or large photo frames.
Turn on the lights
Illumination is one of the best tricks in the book for making a home look warm, inviting, and potentially bigger.
It’s good for estate agents to see the full potential of a home at the valuation, so leaving the lights on in every room makes this significantly easier.
Freshen the air
It isn’t overly important for your home to smell nice for an estate agent (it’s more important for potential buyers), but it can still help.
When a home smells fresh, it can lead the estate agent to believe your home is well-cared for and maintained – which can impact its value and desirability.
Fix minor issues
Just before a valuation isn’t the time to conduct major repair work. But it’s a good idea to address small problems that are easy to fix. For example:
- Cleaning scuffs from walls
- Tightening loose door handles
- Changing blown lightbulbs
- Finishing off odd jobs
Fixing the little things freshens up your home with little effort, which can be the difference between a buyer paying your asking price or knocking down their offer.
Tidy the front garden
First impressions are the most influential factor in determining whether your home sells. In fact, most buyers say the first impression stays with them, even after viewing the interior.
The more kerb appeal your home has, the easier it’ll be for an agent to sell it for a good price. Show them you’re serious about making a good impression and give the front garden a quick tidy.
Sweep leaves, pick up any rubbish, and move bins temporarily. If the exterior windows and doors are particularly dusty, giving these a quick clean can make a big difference, too.
Declutter key areas
A little decluttering goes a long way – for buyers, mostly, but also for estate agents. A cluttered home can appear smaller or make it difficult for an estate agent to see the full potential of your home.
Give the place a quick spruce up as best as you can before they visit – focusing on clearing stuff from windowsills and moving bulky items out of key walkways.
Ready for a valuation?
You don’t need to move heaven and earth before an estate agent visits. After all, they’re experts at seeing past the clutter and valuing your home with utmost accuracy. However, making a few changes can help them see potential more quickly.
Ready to book a valuation? Get an instant online valuation today or book a valuation with an expert estate agent in your area.