Viewers Put Off By Poorly Presented Properties

By Craig Smith

As one of the largest agents in Staffordshire, we get to see a wide range of properties in different areas around the county. It is always nice to see something different and how different owners have designed their homes to suit their needs and, particularly in smaller homes, how they have made best use of the space they have. But one of the issues we have is marketing a property that is not presented at its best.

General Cleanliness

One property that I showed to a couple earlier this week is a prime example. The current occupiers were still in the process of moving out so there were a few dismantled beds and pieces of furniture still to be taken away. Usually this wouldn’t put any viewers off as people who are about to moves themselves can appreciate the amount of work it entails.

The main issue for this property was the amount of cleaning that was needed. There were bags of rubbish piled in the back garden and the house really just needed a good going over with a damp cloth. If a viewer sees a property in this kind of condition it is hard for them to imagine how it will look when they are ready to move in. It also puts doubt into their minds about whether the Landlord would be proactive with any future issues during the tenancy.

Does the Paintwork Need Touching Up?

Another issue the viewers had with this particular property was the condition of the walls and paintwork throughout the house. Again, most people can look past a wall or two that is yet to be made good but when the majority of the walls need filling in and completely repainting, it can be hard to visualise the end product.

It is easy to tell someone what work is going to be carried out before they move in but it is hard for them to actually believe you without any actual evidence. For example, if one room had been started and the viewers could see tools or paintbrushes etc then they might have believed me a little more!

Keen to Get the Property Let

We understand from a Landlord’s point of view that it is best to get the property let as soon as possible to avoid any prolonged empty periods for their property. But when a property is poorly presented it can sometimes make us agents feel like we are wasting our time. Sometimes it is best to hold off on any marketing and wait until the majority of any work is completed.

Needless to say we have spoken with our Landlord since who has welcomed our advice, even if it is sometimes a little hard to put it across in a polite way!