Spring is often seen as the best time of the year to sell a property. With more home buyers actively searching, property listings tend to get more attention and achieve quicker sales.
However, the key to making the most of this market is to prepare your property in advance and engage with a quality estate agent. This guide will walk you through a timeline of the necessary steps to get your property market-ready by spring.
The first step in planning a spring home sale is understanding your property’s value and the current property market conditions.
Request a free home valuation from a local, reputable estate agent to give you a realistic idea of your home’s worth, and ask for guidance on what changes, if any, could make a difference to your selling price or speed.
This could be as simple as rearranging furniture within a room to larger jobs like giving a room a fresh lick of paint. Even small tweaks can add value to your property.
As all residential properties now require a Home Report before being marketed, it’s important that you fix any issues that may be picked up by a property surveyor.
This could be things such as historic water marks or missing roof tiles.
Ask your local property estate agent for advice on potential sale costs, including marketing and legal fees.
When it comes to first impressions of your home, curb appeal is everything.
Simple steps like refreshing the front door, planting seasonal flowers or tidying pathways can go a long way.
Even modest touches, such as a new welcome mat, can contribute to a buyer’s perception of your home’s care and value.
A clutter-free, clean home is essential to attracting potential home buyers.
Start by decluttering each room, removing any overly personal items or excess furniture that can make spaces feel smaller.
A deep clean of carpets, windows, and surfaces will not only improve how your property looks but can also elevate the experience of anyone visiting.
If you’ve made any alterations to your property, you should look out the paperwork and check that you have everything in place as it will be required by your solicitor.
If you obtained a building warrant, do you have the stamped drawings and completion certificate?
If you obtained planning permission or listed building consent, you’ll need the stamped plans.
It’s worth looking out your mortgage paperwork and checking the outstanding balance and whether there is an early repayment charge (ERC).
Do you know where your property title deeds are held? Mortgage lenders generally don’t hold them anymore so they may have been returned to you or be with a previous solicitor.
As mentioned earlier, in Scotland, you need a Home Report before you can officially list your property.
This report includes a property survey, energy report, and a property questionnaire, which are essential for buyers to assess the home’s value and condition.
It is normal for your estate agent to arrange your Home Report for you, however, as it is dated, it should only be carried out when you are ready to proceed.
In today’s market, great photography is essential for generating interest. Select an estate agent who uses a professional photographer and floorplanner to ensure your property is shown in the best light.
If your home has unique period details or is located in a particularly scenic area, these should also be highlighted.
Once your home is listed, it’s time to prepare for viewings. Fresh flowers, a clean scent, and good lighting can go a long way in making your home feel inviting.
Pay special attention to commonly viewed areas, like the living room, kitchen, and garden to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Viewings can be most impactful during the day when natural light is at its peak, so try to schedule accordingly.
Be aware that not all viewers love animals so if you have a dog, it might be better to remove them from the house during viewings (and hide large beds/toys/food bowls).
Does your front doorbell work correctly or if you are in a shared stair, is your buzzer clearly marked and working? You don’t want to miss a viewer.
Getting ready to sell your property in spring requires planning, but it’s well worth the effort to take advantage of the strong seasonal market.
Each step you take now will ensure that your property stands out when buyers are most active, allowing you to make the most of the spring market.
Whether it’s a city townhouse or a country cottage, preparing your property early will maximise its appeal, helping you achieve a quicker, smoother sale.
At Coulters, our experienced team take an honest and strategic approach to valuing, marketing and negotiating, in order to achieve the best possible results for our clients.
They have an excellent knowledge of the Edinburgh and East Lothian markets, so you can feel confident in each stage of the selling process. From accurate property valuations and targeted marketing strategies to expert negotiation and legal support, Coulters ensures every detail is covered, helping you achieve a seamless, successful sale.
The first step is to get a valuation (it’s free at Coulters) to find out what your property’s worth. Once you have that, you’ll be all set to make the most of Spring 2025. Here’s to a successful move!
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