Selling your home might be stressful, but there are things you could do that may speed up finding a buyer and make the process smoother. Discover five tips if you want to sell your home. 

According to Zoopla (13 May 2026), 44% of homes listed in the past three years have failed to sell. In some cases, the seller might have decided they’re happy where they are, or that it wasn’t the right time to move. However, others will have been forced to change their plan after they couldn’t find a buyer. 

Here are five tips that could help you find the right buyer. 

1. Price your home realistically

Everyone would like to sell their home for as much as possible. The sale price might influence your next property purchase or even other parts of your life, such as your retirement if you’re downsizing to release capital to fund it. 

The Zoopla research found that among those who didn’t successfully sell their home, 34% said in hindsight the price was too high. Notably, among those who did sell their home, more than half had to cut their asking price to attract a buyer.

Pricing your property realistically could be crucial for attracting prospective buyers and completing a sale. Speak to several estate agents in your area to get a property valuation and an idea of how much you might sell it for. You might be tempted to choose the estate agent that suggests the highest listing price, but it could hinder your ability to find a buyer.

You may also want to look at the sale prices of properties in your area that have recently sold.  

2. Use your online listing to create a great first impression 

Most prospective buyers will first see your home in an online listing, so think about how you could use it to make a great first impression.

Are there any features in your home that stand out, or local amenities that would attract a certain buyer, such as families or young professionals? If so, how could you incorporate these in the listing?

Don’t forget about the importance of the photographs. You can often save money by taking photos yourself, but hiring a professional could be worthwhile.  

3. Present your home at its best

Think about how to present your property at its best, and show that it could be someone’s next home.

Often, buyers want to imagine how the property could look if they moved in. So, creating a blank canvas for potential buyers might be useful. That could mean removing day-to-day clutter and choosing a neutral colour palette if you’ll be repainting. 

You might also want to consider carrying out small repairs that you’ve perhaps been putting off. From painting over scuff marks to fixing a broken door, it could show buyers that your home is well looked after.  

4. Prepare your paperwork early 

You often don’t need to pass on paperwork until a sale has been agreed. However, doing so when you first list your home could be beneficial. It could help you answer questions from prospective buyers and demonstrate to them that you’d be efficient and responsive if they decided to purchase the property. 

The paperwork you might want to gather includes the property’s Energy Performance Certificate, guarantees or warranties, planning permission, and annual boiler checks.

5. Choose the right professionals to work with

When selling a house, you’ll often work with several professionals. Choosing the right ones for you could make all the difference.

For your estate agent, a company or individuals that have local knowledge and connections could mean they’re able to secure viewings and offers faster.

In addition, you’ll usually need to engage the services of a conveyancing solicitor, who will handle the legal side of the sale. They’ll carry out tasks like investigating property boundaries and restrictive covenants. Frustrating delays to the conveyancing process could lead to buyers pulling out, so choosing a professional you can work efficiently with could be important. 

Similarly, if you’ll be applying for a mortgage, you might benefit from ensuring the application process is as smooth as possible, which a mortgage adviser could help with. 

Contact us to talk about your mortgage

If you’ll be using a mortgage to purchase your next home, you might benefit from our expertise. As mortgage advisers, we could work with you to search the mortgage market to find deals that suit your circumstances and needs. Please contact us to arrange a meeting. 

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it.