If you bought your Redbridge or Ilford property several years ago, it’s likely to be worth more than you paid – and now may be a good time to put your home on the market. Planning your next house move isn’t an exact science, but did you know that the buyer can influence how long selling a house takes?
The best way to sell a house quickly is to be prepared, and you can make your home more appealing to buyers on any budget or timescale. We’ll show you how. Thinking about how to make your house look good for selling; choosing your agent carefully and being sensible in your pricing strategy are among our top pieces of advice for selling your home in today’s market.
So, if you’re thinking of selling in East London, here are 14 things that could help sell your house faster and boost your sale price:
Choosing the right agent is one of the best tips for selling your home quickly and smoothly. You might decide to use a local estate agent, an online service or even go it alone. The latter two options will save you money on fees but you will need to be prepared to do more work marketing your property and negotiating with prospective buyers.
If you opt for a high street estate agent, do your research first to find an agent who knows the local market in East London. Look up online reviews and get personal recommendations from friends and family. Gather information about the number of properties like yours each agent has sold; how long homes remain on their books and how close agreed sales are to the asking price. Ask plenty of questions and trust your instincts when you meet the negotiators; you will need to work closely with them to achieve the best sale.
Buying and selling at the same time?
Here are 10 things that could go wrong, and often do go wrong, and what, if anything, you can do to avoid them.
Buying and selling at the same time?
Here are 10 things that could go wrong, and often do go wrong, and what, if anything, you can do to avoid them.
Seek motivated traditional estate agents who will help you arrange the energy performance certificate (EPC) and photography promptly to get your house sale started. The best agents also know the fastest ways to sell a property on the open market in your area. Though you may not realise it, properties are sold with a strategy that includes setting the right price and appealing to the right buyers.
Pricing your home is a tricky decision as it determines how much you can spend on your next home – but too high a price can put off the prospective house buyer and slow down your sale. You can reduce the price later in the process, but it’s better to get the price right from the beginning.
Do your research through property portals first, to get a clear idea of how much homes in your street have been selling for. Use one of the online valuation tools to get a guide price too.
Get more than one valuation from local agents – they will have a good idea of the state of the market in your area and will help you set your strategy, depending on your goals – maximum price or quick sale, for example.
Don’t be tempted to go with the agent who quotes the highest asking price – they may be over-valuing your property to get the business (you can see sold property prices in your area here).
First impressions are important when you sell your property so kerb appeal (also known as curb appeal) really can make or break a deal. For example:
You’ll need to do this anyway when you move, so start now with a big effort to declutter your home, getting rid of items you don’t need or love. Pack away everything else, so the home looks clean, tidy and devoid of any clutter. If you want to sell a home quickly, you should also depersonalise it by storing family photos and trinkets. Buyers need to be able to see beyond your belongings to visualise themselves in your property.
Want to feel prepared before you sell? Discover the process of selling a house and how to sell my house quickly.
Buyers need to be able to see the purpose of each room. So, if you use a spare bedroom as a storage area, make sure you demonstrate its true purpose. If you don’t have a spare bed, borrow one from a friend or check Freecycle. Similarly, if you have a double room with a single bed, make it clear that the room can accommodate a double.
In the age of working from home, buyers will be looking for a defined office area, so make it clear that there is potential for a conducive work area, even in the smallest flat.
Renovating certain areas of the house can be worthwhile if you have a longer timescale, but don’t overspend on conservatories or new bathrooms or kitchens. If something is functional and hygienic, an expensive replacement often won’t raise your selling price significantly.
Kitchens really do sell houses, but tricks like changing the doors and worktops can upgrade a tired kitchen effectively. If you don’t have the time or budget, clear away all the clutter, mend anything that’s broken and get everywhere looking spotless.
Taking care of small, inexpensive DIY jobs can help your home to sell faster. Unfinished repairs can put buyers off, or make them question what else isn’t well-maintained, leading to a lower offer. Target cracked tiles, unsteady door knobs, aged grouting, broken or poorly mended shelves and so on.
Home staging ensures your property looks more spacious and appealing to potential buyers, which may even raise the price. You can stage your home easily by rearranging your furniture, adding plants and hiding untidy features like electrical cables. Ensure the rugs and cushions look good and consider changing them if needed. Make sure the towels in the bathroom and kitchen are freshly changed too.
Light, bright and shiny should always be the order of the day when selling a home, so give the place a fresh coat of paint in white or a light, neutral shade. Replace tired old carpets with light ones or floor coverings and install a couple of mirrors to make the most of natural light. Cleaning the windows is another cheap and easy way to brighten up your East London home.
Make sure your house is warm and welcoming but keep it well-ventilated too. The aim is to avoid either a damp or stuffy feeling. Lighting matters too, particularly for evening viewings. Check the light fittings and light bulbs are working, and light your home to make it appealing.
It may be tempting to hang around for viewings – to see who’s looking at your home and offer ‘advice’ but it’s better not to. Let the listing agent present your home to your property buyer with professionalism and expertise. Give your buyers the time and space so they can imagine themselves walking through their new home instead of seeing it as the home sellers’ personal space. But respond promptly to any questions they raise after viewing.
If you’ve neglected your garden, catch up now so buyers can imagine enjoying the open space. Two thirds of Redbridge homes have private gardens, so you’ve got competition – make sure your outdoor space doesn’t lose you a sale. Trim any overgrown shrubs, take care of the weeding, cut the grass and clean the patio and garden furniture. If it’s looking a bit sparse, a few planted pots can make a difference.
You need great photos to attract buyers, so once the house is set up well, find a good photographer. An experienced agent can recommend an experienced local photographer who knows how to make the most of homes – for instance, through the right angles and lighting.
Want to feel prepared before you sell? Read about the pros and cons of downsizing your home and selling a help-to-buy property.
Your estate agent is legally obliged to pass on all offers received on the property. But you are not legally required to accept. Your choice is to accept, reject, wait and see – in case you receive a better one – or negotiate with the buyer.
Don’t look at offer price alone when choosing a buyer; think too about how smoothly the selling process is likely to progress or if there’s a risk that they won’t complete the sale. Even after you’ve accepted an offer, nothing is legally binding until the contracts are signed via your conveyancing solicitor. If you receive multiple offers, the safest prospective purchasers are cash buyers, who don’t need a mortgage offer. After considering cash offers, many buyers prioritise those who are chain-free – first-time buyers or people who have already sold and moved into rented accommodation. Bear this in mind if you have the luxury of choice!
At Sandra Davidson we provide bespoke strategies for our clients, helping you to sell in the quickest possible time and at the best price. If you’re looking to sell in Redbridge or Ilford, contact us today to discuss the best strategy for your house move.
Selling your house can be a complicated process, but breaking it down can make it less intimidating. That’s why we have compiled this step-by-step guide to the process of selling a house in east London. Whether you’re selling for the first time, are buying at the same time, or just aren’t sure what the current advice is in 2026, read on for tips on how to sell your house. We’ll talk you through everything from mortgage matters to professional photography. We also answer your frequently asked questions about the selling process. Find out more.
When you inherit a property, there will be decisions to make regarding whether to sell the property, live in it yourself or rent it out, and there will be legal processes to follow.
If you are wondering what the next steps are then this guide explains how the probate process works, what tax obligations you may have and which documents you will need if you decide to sell the property.
We also cover the different options you have for selling an inherited property and answer some of the most common questions about inheriting a property.
If you are looking for a fast house sale, there are several ways that you can improve the chances of a quick sale. Choosing an experienced local estate agent will help to speed up the sale but you can also get your paperwork prepared and make sure that your property is presented well to attract more viewings and prospective buyers.
Read our tips on how to sell a house quickly in East London for a full guide on the actions you can take to help to achieve a faster property sale.
