Resident property expert, Mathew Wood of Hola Properties – headquartered in Lanjarón – explains how to prepare for a property sale…. after the trees, tinsel, and Three Kings have been packed away…
THINKING of selling your Spanish home in 2025, once the festive season is behind us? The process can seem daunting. However, with the right preparation, you can ensure a smooth and successful sale. With plans definitely not making for fools, here are 10 essential tips to prepare your property to catch the market.
1. Declutter and deep clean
First impressions count! Start by decluttering and deep cleaning your home. A tidy and spotless house is more appealing than a dirty hoarder’s paradise! It allows potential buyers to visualise themselves living in the space, rather than stepping over your personal items in every room. This is crucial to creating a welcoming environment for buyers.
2. Perform minor repairs and updates
Small improvements can make a big difference to the chances of selling your Spanish home. Consider repainting the walls, fixing leaky wash basins, or updating old fixtures and fittings. These minor repairs can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your home and increase its value to buyers.
3. Depersonalise your space
OK, so you love those old photos from your college days and the trinkets from your trip to India. However, personal items such as family photos and knick-knacks can distract buyers from how the house really feelsas a potential home. Removing these items helps people to envision the space as their own, which is vital to encouraging offers.
4. Create a welcoming entrance
Your home’s entrance is the gateway to its charm. Ensure that your front door is clean and in good condition. Adding a fresh coat of paint, varnish, or a new doormat can make a good first impression. You definitely don’t want potential buyers tripping over your mountain bike, old footballs from your kids, or some discarded paint cans!
5. Hire a professional home stager
A professional home stager can transform your space, highlighting its best features. They can rearrange and style your furniture to maximise the appeal of each room, making it more attractive to buyers. Think ‘feng shui’ rather than ‘fusty old stuff’.
6. Create good lighting
As with photography, achieving the correct lighting in your home is crucial. Ensure that your home is well-lit, both inside and out. Proper lighting can enhance the ambiance and attractiveness of your property. Having a dark cave-like space with broken light bulbs will never work in your favour!
7. Obtain high-quality photos and video for your property listings
In today’s digital age, first impressions are usually made online. Professional video tours of your property are essential for most buyers on the current market. High-quality photos are needed for your property listings and marketing materials. These should showcase your home’s best and unique features. Ideally, they should be taken by a real estate photographer – not on your old, low-res smartphone. In particular, the ‘verticals’ should be correct, meaning that walls look straight, and are not leaning in on each other, with a ‘pincushion’ effect. A real estate photographer will come equipped with a wide angle lens to do the job properly. They can also advise you about any distractions that appear in the planned shots, such as curtains not hanging straight or old brooms lurking in corners.
8. Be open to negotiation
Selling a home usually involves negotiation. Be prepared to engage with potential buyers, listen to offers, and make counter offers. Flexibility can lead to a successful sale. Refusing to budge over that last 250e you had in mind can, equally, lose you a perfectly good buyer.
9. Have all the necessary documents ready
Perform a pre-sale document check to ensure that all your paperwork is in order. If you are lacking a vital document, this can cause huge delays and problems. Get ahead of the game and sort it out before marketing your property!
10. Work with a professional real estate agent
Consider hiring a real estate agent. They can navigate the selling process, handle details, and offer expert advice. Their experience can be invaluable in ensuring a smooth transaction, and not getting into a twist over the legalities and paperwork.
Selling your home in Spain during 2025 requires preparation. However, opportunities exist for those who are prepared early!
