How to Prepare Your Home for a Viewing

A viewing is your home's audition. Buyers and renters decide fast, often in the first minute, and a clean, clutter-free space helps them picture themselves living there. You do not need to redecorate. A thorough clean and some simple staging make the biggest difference to how your home shows.

Start with the first impression

People judge a home before they even step inside. Sweep the path and doorstep, wipe the front door and clean any glass, and tidy the front garden or communal entrance. Just inside, clear away shoes, coats and post so the hallway feels open and welcoming.

Declutter and depersonalise

Clutter makes rooms look smaller and stops viewers seeing the space itself. Pack away anything you will not need before you move.

• Clear worktops, windowsills and side tables down to a few items.
• Box up excess ornaments, papers and spare clothes.
• Take down very personal photos, so viewers can imagine their own life there.

Deep clean the rooms that sell

Kitchens and bathrooms decide viewings, so give them the most attention.

Kitchen

• Degrease the hob, oven front and splashback until they shine.
• Clear and wipe every worktop, and empty the bin.
• Polish the taps and sink so they gleam.

Bathroom

• Remove limescale from taps, tiles and the shower screen.
• Scrub the grout, clean the toilet and polish the mirror.
• Hang fresh towels and put toiletries away.

Let in light and space

Bright, airy rooms feel bigger and more inviting. Clean the windows inside and out, open the curtains fully, and turn on lamps in darker corners. Mirrors bounce light around and make small rooms feel larger. Straighten the furniture so each room shows a clear, easy path through it.

Mind the smell

Smell is powerful and instant. Air the whole home before a viewing, deal with the bins, and wash any pet bedding. Avoid heavy air fresheners, which hint that you are covering something up. Clean, neutral air beats strong scent every time.

The final walk-through

Just before viewers arrive, do a quick lap of the home:

• Fluff the cushions and straighten throws and beds.
• Wipe down surfaces and put away any stray items.
• Empty the bins and open a window for fresh air.

Selling or letting and short on time to get every room spotless? You can book a GlowSpark cleaner for a pre-viewing deep clean from £19 an hour, from £16 for members, with your first hour for £9 on your first Home Cleaning booking.