I’m sure I don’t have to spell it out for you – selling a house is stressful enough. Throw in homework, packed lunches, and a toddler who refuses to nap, and it starts to feel like some kind of cruel endurance test. The mess, the endless phone calls, the constant ‘Sorry, can you manage a viewing in, say, 30 minutes?’ – it’s a lot. But with a solid plan (and a few clever shortcuts), you can keep the chaos under control and get your house sold without losing your mind.
Prep Smart, Not Hard
You don’t have time for a full-scale home makeover, and you don’t need one. Buyers don’t expect a show home – they just want to picture themselves living there. The trick is knowing where to put your energy.
Declutter, but don’t strip the place bare – A lived-in home is fine. A house overflowing with toys, paperwork, and last week’s school project? Less fine. Stick to one simple rule: if it makes a space feel smaller, hide it.
- Fix the small stuff – That dripping tap, the loose doorknob, the scuffed skirting board. Tiny things scream ‘this house needs work’ to buyers – even if the big things are perfect.
- Kerb appeal isn’t just estate agent jargon – 68% of buyers say first impressions matter.
- And don’t fall into the deep-cleaning trap. Yes, the house should be clean, but you do not need to scrub skirting boards with a toothbrush. Focus on what actually gets noticed: floors, surfaces, and anything that smells suspiciously like last night’s fish fingers.
Making the Selling Process Work for You
Once you’ve prepped the home and found your next move, it’s frustrating when offers don’t start rolling in. Looking for a good estate agent is key, but finding the right one can be tricky. Sometimes looking for someone local is the biggest benefit. For example, if you were located in Bristol and wanted to find the best online estate agent for you, typing in ‘Sell my house in Bristol‘ would produce agents with good local knowledge.
They can help you with things like:
- Pricing it right from the start
- Stacking viewings together
- Getting ahead of buyer questions
- Opting for a quick sale through a cash buying service
Whatever you pick is up to you! But if time is of the essence, then a buying service will definitely speed things up.
Avoiding the Traps That Slow You Down
Selling a house comes with more red tape than a kids’ Christmas concert. And the biggest time-sucks? Usually avoidable.
- Paperwork panic – Nearly one in five house sales collapses due to missing documents. Before you even list the house, check you’ve got everything: title deeds, energy performance certificate, guarantees for any big work done.
- Underestimating the emotional side – If your kids are old enough to understand what’s happening, they might not love the idea of moving. Let them pack their own box and pick out something new for their next bedroom.
- A slow solicitor can ruin everything – On average, the legal side takes between 8 and 12 weeks, but bad communication can stretch that out even longer.