PLANNING ON SELLING YOUR HOME IN 2026? HERE ARE SIX RESOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU

The new year has certainly seen lots of new properties launched onto the market, but it is of course far too early to say how healthy that market is going to be in 2026, writes Sue Hall.  We can hope that we will see a boost in confidence, especially from first time buyers, after a difficult 2025 which was characterised above all by uncertainty.

If you are planning on selling this year, then you can give your chances a boost by ensuring that you are well prepared before you bring your home to market.  With that in mind, here are my six new year’s resolutions for anyone who is likely to be putting their home up for sale in 2026 – even if that will be later in the year.

1. Start getting your ducks in a row now.  You would be astonished how many people instruct an agent before they have brought together things like their EPC certificate, their FENSA certificate for any new windows, a HETAS certificate for your wood burner, details of any leasehold or service charges and so on.  And it’s never too early to start seeking and instructing a solicitor.  When you do come to market, buyers love an organised vendor who is ready to move quickly.

2. Get those jobs done which you know need doing: builders and tradespeople get busy once the spring comes round, so now is a good time for repairs, getting your boiler serviced, redecorating and generally sprucing up your property.

3. Declutter!  January is an excellent time to declutter your home and clear the decks, which won’t just make your home more attractive to prospective buyers, but will make the actual move less of a headache, too.

4. Make you home liveable.  Buyers want to imagine themselves living in their new home, and you can help them do this by staging it appropriately.  This includes the garden: even though there is snow on the ground, you can help buyers envisage balmy summer days by putting out garden furniture, for example.  AI staging is a useful tool when done well (and disastrous if done badly) – so make sure your agent offers this service.

5. Don’t be greedy.  Understanding the market and setting a realistic launch asking price is perhaps the most important thing you can do.  Aiming too high won’t fool buyers, who have the whole market to compare your property with.  And if you do subsequently end up having to reduce the price to where it should have been in the first place, it could damage your home’s standing in the eyes of potential buyers.

6. Pick the right agent.  Local knowledge and experience of selling in both good and bad times is crucial – it really does make a difference.