{"id":635,"date":"2025-04-09T09:30:49","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T09:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/?p=635"},"modified":"2025-04-13T08:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T08:04:56","slug":"phil-spencer-shares-5-tips-to-ensure-your-house-flies-off-the-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/09\/phil-spencer-shares-5-tips-to-ensure-your-house-flies-off-the-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Spencer shares 5 tips to ensure your house flies off the market"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Location,\t<\/div>
Looking to sell your house? Phil Spencer has a few tricks up his sleeve (Picture: Getty\/Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s so much we might sneakily look for when viewing a new property<\/a>, whether that\u2019s a tiny bit of mould <\/a>in the bathroom or any suspicious-looking cracks in the walls.<\/p>\n

But what happens when you’re on the other side of it and selling up<\/a>?<\/p>\n

The reality is much more brutal than meets the eye. Think your maximalist interiors<\/a> and beloved trinkets might convince buyers to put in their offer? Convinced they won\u2019t notice that teeny detail you hadn\u2019t quite got around to fixing? It could be time to reassess.<\/p>\n

According to data from Zoopla<\/a>, the average home now takes 185 days to shift from when it\u2019s first marketed \u2013 which equates to around 25 weeks, or just under six months. <\/p>\n

And if you’re underestimating the power your viewer’s red flags might hold, you could find yourself waiting a hot minute.<\/p>\n

So, Metro <\/strong>chatted to Phil Spencer, founder of the property advice website Move iQ<\/a> and host of Location, Location, Location, about the brutal truths that homeowners need to know if they actually want their four walls to sell.<\/p>\n

Clear the cutter<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\n\t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n

\u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n

\u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n

Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It might sound simple, but it\u2019s true: you really do <\/em>need to clear up your clutter. It\u2019s time for an April refresh, even if that\u2019s not music to your ears.<\/p>\n

\u2018Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for the property market. Many would-be buyers come out of hibernation and begin househunting in earnest as the cold winter months give way to warmer, sunnier days,\u2019 Phil explains.<\/p>\n

\u2018But this year, there are more homes on the market than buyers. So if you\u2019ve decided to sell, get ready to face a lot of competition and accept that you may have work to do to make your place more attractive to potential buyers.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Messy\t<\/div>
Phil says it’s best that the property doesn’t look too ‘lived in’ (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With that in mind, it\u2019s time to get rid of those excessive trinkets \u2013 even including photographs and various personal items that, as Phil says, make the home look \u2018cluttered.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018When potential buyers view your home, they want to imagine themselves living there, and it\u2019s hard to do that if the property looks a little too <\/em>lived in,\u2019 he suggests.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s not to say you need to depersonalise, but removing clutter and making everywhere tidy will get every viewing off to the best possible start.\u2019<\/p>\n

Paint means prizes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the paintbrushes out: it\u2019s officially time to stop ignoring those little marks on the wall. You don\u2019t need to completely try out a new colour scheme to make a difference, but a little touch-up is always welcome.<\/p>\n

\u2018Daily life leaves scratches and marks on walls and painted surfaces,\u2019 Phil acknowledges.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Painting,\t<\/div>
Couple painting the walls at their home. (Credits: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018But taking the time to fill any cracks in the plaster and give the walls a fresh coat of paint will pay big dividends when you\u2019re selling – it\u2019s an effective way to make your home look well cared for, more inviting and more vibrant.\u2019<\/p>\n

Make any necessary repairs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s true: that dodgy door handle or pesky plumbing issue needs addressing, rather than sweeping under the carpet. <\/p>\n

As Phil notes, you might\u2019ve been putting off these odd jobs for years, but now is the time to put them back on your to-do list.<\/p>\n

\u2018Get on and sort any minor maintenance issues or make any repairs that need doing. This could mean fixing a dripping tap or oiling a door\u2019s hinges to stop it squeaking,\u2019 he shares.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Young\t<\/div>
It’s time to get your DIY mood on (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Buying a home is stressful, and you want prospective buyers to feel reassured that if they choose yours, they won\u2019t have a lot of problems to fix right away.\u2019<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a hard truth to swallow, we know \u2013 but there’s no harm in getting the tool kit out, right?<\/p>\n

Clean like your life depends on it<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s time for a deep clean, and not just for the estate agent’s photos. A home that\u2019s completely free of dirt goes a long way at the point of viewing, too – so it’s time to be reunited with your rubber gloves.<\/p>\n

\u2018Deep clean your home, so it looks and feels fresh. Most buyers decide whether or not to make an offer after only spending around 10 minutes in the property,\u2019 Phil reminds us.<\/p>\n

\u2018You need to make that time count, and ensuring your home is sparkling clean is the first step to impressing potential buyers.\u2019<\/p>\n

Remember, not all estate agents are created equal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Returned to reality yet? Phil\u2019s final tip is to remember that your choice of estate agent can mean the difference between selling your home quickly and weeks or even months\u2019<\/em> worth of anxiously waiting by the phone, waiting for them (no, not your ex) to call.<\/p>\n

\u2018When looking for an estate agent, make sure to read reviews, research their qualifications and experience, and ask anyone you know who has used their services for their impressions,\u2019 Phil concludes, adding that it also helps if they\u2019re a member of a professional organisation like Propertymark, as this means they\u2019ll \u2018follow a code of conduct.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Don\u2019t judge agents solely on how much commission they charge or what valuation they give for your home. Agents who are proactive and can demonstrate clearly all the steps they\u2019ll take to sell your home are the most likely to provide a good service and get you the best price.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tWhat's your home like?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

This year Metro <\/strong>is partnering with the Ufurnish.com Home Awards<\/a> to bring readers the best in UK property.<\/p>\n

From jaw-dropping before-and-after renovations to effortlessly stylish spaces on a budget and rental DIY masterpieces, the awards recognise outstanding talent across 20 categories covering interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories.<\/p>\n

As part of our partnership, Metro\u2019s Property channel <\/a>will be full of inspiring homes, fly-on-the-wall property pictures and tips and tricks from those in the know.<\/p>\n

Need some inspo (or some eye candy)? We\u2019ve rounded up nine winners<\/a> from last year\u2019s awards to get those creative juices flowing.<\/p>\n

Head to Ufurnish.com<\/a> to enter now.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Looking to sell your house? Phil Spencer has a few tricks up his sleeve (Picture: Getty\/Metro) There\u2019s so much we might sneakily look for when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-property"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":642,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions\/642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}