SELLING YOUR HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Summer is here, your house is on the market and you’ve got a holiday booked.

Summer is here, your house is on the market and you’ve got a holiday booked. Should you pause the marketing while you’re gone, or maybe think about cancelling your trip? In a nutshell, no, but there are a few things you need to consider before heading to foreign climes. The good news is that nothing should stop you packing your cases and hitting the road.

Most estate agents now offer accompanied viewings as standard, so if you’ve already supplied yours with a key they can simply carry on as usual while you’re away. The wonders of modern technology will allow you to stay in touch in case there’s some interest or an offer: make sure to tell your agent how best to contact you wherever you’ll be, whether by phone, email, sms, WhatsApp, etc.

If, for some reason, your agent has not been accompanying viewings, it’s well worth giving them access while you’re gone. If you’re not comfortable leaving keys with anyone but your friends or family, is there someone who could either show people around while you’re away, or at least let your agent in?

Whatever you decide, make sure to explain any security procedures and alarms, and that you’ve informed your insurer.

If you’ve been doing your own viewings until now, leave your agent or nominated keyholder some notes about anything you’ve been highlighting on viewing tours. This not only gives buyers the unmissable aspects of your home and its location, but also makes it easier for whoever is showing them round.

You could even leave a list on your fridge or memo board of your personal favourites: the best room for a morning coffee; the light on the terrace at sunset; most treasured cafe; a gorgeous Sunday walk. Leytonstone and Wanstead are wonderful places to live, so there’s plenty to rave about. What inspired you when you bought your home?

If a friend or family member is going to carry out the viewings, you can save them being on endless standby by talking to them about their schedule and fixing some times with them and your agent: perhaps one weekday evening and a Saturday.

Whatever is happening while you’re away, gets a checklist for before you leave: empty all bins (kitchen waste can go nuclear at this time of year; make sure the house is clean and tidy; water any plants; lock a couple of windows in the ‘vent’ position to keep that East London air circulating (and if you can’t do that a judicious scattering of few herb bags will give the scent of summer and the outdoors – a musty or bad smelling house is a big turn-off).

Finally, don’t forget your kerb appeal. Even if nobody views while you’re gone, serious buyers often check the outside of a property before they view. Just because you’re taking a well-earned break doesn’t mean your home should stop working for a sale!