Selling a home can sometimes take longer than originally anticipated, but it’s important not to be disheartened if this happens. The property market is competitive, and it’s not uncommon to experience a plateau in interest when selling your property.

If your home has been on the market for a while, we have shared 9 steps you can take to help increase your property’s online views, secure more viewings and ultimately increase your chances of selling.

1. Seek advice from your solicitor

If your property isn’t selling as quickly as you originally hoped, a good starting point is to have a review with the solicitor advertising your property. Together, assess any feedback that has come from viewings that have taken place. Although sometimes it can be difficult to hear negative aspects about the property that you love, it is the best place to start. Is there anything that’s proving to be a common theme in the feedback?

Your solicitor also has significant experience in supporting clients buying and selling properties in the local market, and will be able to offer some valuable advice.

Ask your solicitor what comparable properties have sold nearby. Make comparisons against your property – for example, how does the décor measure up?, Are there features that your property doesn’t have?

2. Enhance your home’s kerb appeal

Be sure that your property is giving the best possible first impression and consider investing in some quick wins that keep the front of your home looking well-maintained and tidy.

Keep on top of grass cutting and weed killing, and try to keep hedges neatly trimmed. Add some colour with some seasonal planting.  This can be as simple as adding some pre-potted containers at either side of your front door – making your property feel more welcoming than others for sale in the neighbourhood.  You can even go the extra mile by giving any doors or fences a fresh lick of paint, clearing out any clogged gutters and ensuring that your roof is in a good state of repair.

Buyers may decide to drive past before booking a viewing, so ensuring your property looks attractive from the outside throughout the duration of the selling process is very important.

To help encourage interest, make sure your for sale sign is prominently displayed – this could capture the attention of those exploring their preferred location, and if you are in a flat with for sale posters in the window, don’t be afraid to ask for replacements if these have become bleached with the sun.

3. Review the Home Report

Cast an eye over your Home Report, paying particular attention to items that are classed as category 2 and 3 repairs. Some of these may be fairly easily remedied such as replacing silicone seals around shower trays and baths or removing skirtings to clear plaster rubble build-up.

For other items, it’s worth obtaining quotes for having these fixed – particularly roofing or dampness/wood boring insect work. You can then either decide to do the work and have your report updated, or provide the quotes to your solicitor so a cost indication can be given to any viewers questioning the report.

Another point to consider is the age of your home report. A refresh of your report does not involve the full outlay – and is a good idea to keep your listing appearing fresh if it has been on the market for over a year. A refreshed report is also worthwhile if you have made improvements or addressed issues contained in the report during the time that your property has been on the market. 

4. Invest in a little bit of DIY

DIY is an excellent way to try and address some of the reasons your home may not be selling and it doesn’t mean you need to overhaul each room. Some of the areas identified from the earlier points can be rectified for relatively low cost by tackling them yourself with a little bit of time and effort.

Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can help you to spot things that you miss from living in the house 24/7, so ask a friend or family member who won’t be afraid to cast a critical eye. We then recommend making a list of any improvements that you think could be made to your home in order to make it more appealing to potential buyers. From here, you can then decide upon the tasks that will be most feasible in terms of your time, budget and skill set.

5. Consider staging your home

One of the reasons why your property hasn’t sold may be that buyers can’t visualise themselves living in your home.

Staging your home is a strategic method to make it appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. It typically involves decorating, furnishing and reorganising the home to help highlight the property’s desirable features and show optimal living layouts. For example, it’s always advised to ensure beds are accessible from both sides as opposed to against the wall, so this is a good first step to consider when staging bedrooms.

Successful staging will maximise light throughout the home, increase accessibility and flow, and also create a homely ambience that people automatically feel connected to.

Particularly advised for unfurnished properties, staging is a brilliant step to help buyers visualise the space.

For furnished properties, start off the process by removing less practical pieces of furniture and more personal items before reorganising into new layouts. 


If you need a helping hand with your property’s staging, check out step 9 for more information about our Making Your Home Stand Out service.

6. Enhance your property’s photography

High quality photographs are key to selling a property, and if your home has been on the market for a while, refreshing and enhancing the photos on your listing could really help.

For example, were the original photos taken on a dull, rainy day? Is the garden in the shade due to the time of day the photographer visited? Have you made any improvements to your home or garden since the photos were taken? Ideally you want your photos to showcase your home in the best possible light, making it highly attractive to buyers, so a refresh can go a long way.

If you’re considering enhancing, refreshing or adding more photos for your property, our top tip is to always use a professional photographer - ideally one who is experienced in homes and interiors. This will set your listing up for success.

7. Re-evaluate your pricing strategy

Getting the asking price of your property right can be the key to attracting buyers.

If you’re thinking about re-evaluating your pricing strategy, one of the key factors to consider is whether your property is fairly priced in relation to others in the local area. Discuss this with your solicitor and ask about comparable properties that have sold recently. 

Do take time to discuss with your solicitor the likely impact that a price change will have.  Will it still be one property of many properties available at the new reduced price? Rather than reduce the price, is it feasible to instead use the money you would reduce by to make improvements to your property?

8. Revise your listing

It does no harm to review your listing from time to time.  Has anything changed, any new facilities opened (or closed) nearby that should be taken account of? 

Make sure all key features are included, particularly any unique aspects that make your property stand out from the crowd. Ask your solicitor for edits to your listing if you have made changes to your property whilst it has been on the market. Sometimes, particularly for the flat market, it can be worth changing the leading image on your listing from time to time – an image of a different room might catch a potential viewer’s eye as they are scrolling by.

Remember that you have first-hand knowledge of what is great about living in your home and the local area, and it’s often these personal insights that bring a listing to life for potential buyers.

Also, consider adding a video tour and floor plan to your property. These are excellent ways to showcase your home’s layout and show the space off to its full potential.

9. Take advantage of ASPC’s Making Your Home Stand Out service

If you’d like a helping hand to make your home stand out, we have launched our Making Your Home Stand Out service.

Aimed at properties that have been on the market but haven’t yet attracted a buyer, this service will give you access to expert home staging advice from Victoria Nicol of West End Styling. A consultation at our Property Hub at Holburn Junction will help you unlock opportunities to improve how your property is presented and listed, to maximise interest from prospective buyers both online and at viewings. You can tap into Victoria’s wealth of property presentation experience, and get personalised advice around potential improvements you could make.

To book your consultation, you can either contact your solicitor and ask for a referral, or contact ASPC directly at 01224 632949 or centre@aspc.co.uk.

At ASPC, we are passionate about helping buyers, sellers and renters across the North East find a home that best suits their needs. From the initial search to the keys being handed over, our dedicated team is here every step of the way.

To help make the process of buying and selling as seamless as possible, we’ve created a range of insightful blog posts and information pages. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with one of our team members on centre@aspc.co.uk.