How to Prepare Your Home for Viewings

The viewing is booked.

The buyer is on their way.

And suddenly you're looking around your house wondering why you've accumulated 14 mugs, three laundry baskets and enough shoes to open your own shop.

Don't panic.

Preparing your home for a viewing doesn't mean turning it into a show home. It simply means giving buyers the best opportunity to appreciate what they've come to see.

Start with a reset

Think about the difference between how your home looks on a normal Tuesday evening and how you'd want it to look when guests arrive.

That's roughly the mindset to have before a viewing.

Clear surfaces, tidy rooms and put away anything that doesn't need to be on display.

The kitchen matters

Kitchens are often one of the rooms buyers spend the most time looking at.

Clear the worktops, wash up, empty the bins and give surfaces a good clean.

You don't need to remove every appliance. Just avoid making the room feel unnecessarily cluttered.

Bathrooms need to feel clean

This is one area where buyers notice cleanliness immediately.

Clean the shower, bath, sink and toilet. Remove excess toiletries and replace old towels if necessary.

Freshness is the name of the game.

Open the curtains

Natural light makes a huge difference.

Open curtains and blinds, clean the windows where possible and let the light into the rooms.

A bright home generally feels more welcoming than a dark one.

Make the beds

It sounds obvious, but bedrooms photograph and view much better when they're tidy.

Put clothes away, clear bedside tables and make the beds.

Give the garden a quick makeover

You don't need to completely redesign it.

Mow the lawn, sweep the patio, remove weeds and tidy garden furniture.

If you've got an outdoor office, shed or entertaining area, make sure buyers can actually see it.

Don't forget the smell

A home that smells fresh feels fresher.

Open windows before a viewing if appropriate and avoid strong cooking smells immediately beforehand.

If you have pets, make sure their bedding, litter trays and other items are clean and ideally tucked away during viewings.

What about you?

This is one of the biggest advantages of having an estate agent conduct the viewing.

Buyers can often speak more freely when the owner isn't standing next to them.

If possible, let your agent handle the viewing and use the opportunity to pop out.

Don't try to hide everything

Your home doesn't need to be perfect.

Buyers understand that people actually live in houses.

A few toys or family photographs aren't going to ruin a viewing.

The aim is to make the property feel welcoming while allowing buyers to appreciate the space.

And finally...

Remember that buyers are looking at more than the décor.

They're considering the layout, room sizes, location, garden, parking, storage and whether they can see themselves living there.

Your job is simply to make it as easy as possible for them to imagine that future.

And if you find yourself doing a last-minute panic clean five minutes before the viewing?

Don't worry.

We've seen it before.