Getting your home ready for sale

Lots of people struggle to envisage the practical use of a room when it is devoid of furniture so making sure your property looks it’s best is a good starting point. The key here is leaving just the essentials in the room e.g. for a bedroom just the bed, a wardrobe and maybe a side unit. Try and clear non-essential furniture out of the room. This gives the suggestion of how the room looks but also gives the impression of more space.

Walls need to be either meticulously clean or preferably given a quick new coat of paint. This will ensure the property is looking its best so that perspective purchasers can imagine moving straight in. Keep the property to neutral colours such as warm neutral creams and beiges and get rid of any loud or patterned wallpaper. People’s tastes are individual to them so by keeping things neutral you don’t allow the person to perceive the property as negative due to the fact they don’t like your décor.

Damaged sections of flooring will also stick out like a sore thumb when there is no furniture in the house, if budget allows, consider getting the floor repaired or replaced. If this is not feasible then hire a good floor-cleaning machine can make good superficial scratches or staining.

Pay attention to your fixtures and fittings

Think about replacing any broken or outdated taps and knobs. This is very inexpensive but will make a significant difference to the general ambiance and finished appearance of a room. You could also look to update any old light fittings that have seen better days to complete the look.

Pleasing to all the senses

One of the big problems with homes that are left empty and awaiting sale is the musty damp smell that starts to develop, particularly during the winter months.

To counteract this make sure the property is given a thorough airing at least once a week, with the windows and doors opened to allow some fresh air in.

You may also want to invest in some air fresheners to leave around the property but make sure they are not overwhelmingly strong and never leave plug in appliances in place when you are not there.

Where possible, make sure guttering is cleared regularly, dead leaves are swept up and the garden is not allowed to become too overgrown. Good old ‘curb appeal’ becomes even more crucial when your property is empty, so ensuring that your buyers are enthusiastic as they walk through the front door will certainly stand you in the best stead.

Unfortunately, thieves and vandals more often target empty properties. Make sure you keep all windows and doors securely locked when you’re not there and consider whether additional devices such as security lights are required.

It is well documented that selling a house that has been left empty for whatever reason can be much more of an uphill struggle than shifting your lived-in family home. Properties are most often left completely empty when owners have moved away or the property is going through probate, with both situations benefiting from a swift sale.

CoverBuilder is a non-standard home insurance provider in the UK.