Published: 22/07/2025
If you’re serious about selling, it’s time for a touch of honesty... and a healthy dose of polish. While we love a bold interior, that avant-garde maximalism and nostalgia-laced clutter could be stalling your sale.
According to Zoopla, homes in the UK now take an average of 185 days to sell. That’s half a year of scented candles, pristine cushions, and pretending you don’t mind the lack of offers. Fortunately, Ralph Wyrley-Birch, Senior Partner at Mount & Minster estate agents, has dished out five elegantly blunt tips to get your property under offer faster than the average property for sale in Lincoln, Newark and Grantham.
1. Declutter Like a Grown-Up
No, buyers don’t want to see your vintage teacup collection or that shrine of framed Ibiza photos. Ralph's advice is simple: remove the noise. Your home should whisper “aspirational lifestyle,” not “my house is cluttered because I have so little storage.”
It’s not about stripping personality, but creating space — physical and mental — for viewers to imagine themselves living there. Let’s be honest: who’s really charmed by a corridor crammed with coat racks and pet toys?
2. Paint: Because Scuffs aren’t Chic
Those hairline cracks and scuff marks may scream “lived-in character” to you, but to potential buyers, they just scream “not looked after.” A fresh coat of paint signals care, investment, and a home that’s been loved and not neglected.
You don’t need a whole new palette. Just patch, polish, and present your walls like they’re about to be judged. Because, well, they are.
3. Fix It — or Risk It
That door that sticks, the tap that drips, the handle that’s never quite worked… they all need sorting. “Minor” maintenance issues become major in the minds of buyers. You don’t want them mentally adding up post-purchase chores during their initial viewing. Again, Ralph makes it clear, "It's all about injecting confidence into a buyer and giving them the peace of mind that, this very expensive thing you're wanting them to buy, has been maintained properly and won't give them any headaches later on. Buyers want a home... not a house."
This isn’t just about cosmetics. It’s about creating a sense of calm, reliability and charm.
4. Clean & Tidy Like the In-Laws are Coming
Estate agent photos are one thing. But what about the actual viewing? Ralph advises a proper deep clean — not just a flick round with the Dyson while blasting a podcast.
You’ve got about ten minutes to make an impression. Worse than that, buyers will make up their mind in the first 35 seconds if they don't want to buy it. If the initial impression is one of neglect, then kiss your buyers goodbye. Remember, smell is a powerful sense. Don't light candles, it gives buyers the impression you're hiding something. Instead, use a diffuser or, even better, buy some flowers.
Make sure the approach to the front door is just as pleasing... first impressions count!
5. Choose Your Estate Agent Wisely
Finally, a word on estate agents: not all are created equal. The wrong one will leave you frustrated, stressed and questioning your life choices. The right one? They’ll market your home with style, accuracy, and just the right amount of charm.
First of all, make sure they're RICS accredited or Chartered. This means they've achieved the highest of standards and have passed the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Otherwise, they're likely to be just like any other estate agent: incompetent and sleazy.
Look for someone who understands your postcode, your price bracket, and your priorities. In this market, mediocre won’t cut it.