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How to get your home ready for viewing in two hours

When you’re looking to sell your home, you may find that last-minute viewings pop up a lot more than you’d expect. When someone requests a viewing you do your best to accommodate — but you might find that your home isn’t exactly looking picture-perfect.

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A few touches can make a big difference

While you want your home to look its very best for every viewing, it's simply not practical to keep it pristine while also living your life. Luckily, it doesn't take long to get a home up to scratch. 

One key to last-minute viewings is keeping your home generally tidy. If you decluttered your home before it went on the market, there should be less mess to keep up with. You may want to make sure that your weekly clean is actually happening every week, rather than falling to the wayside. Being prepared can make those last-minute viewings far less stressful. 

But if you do find that a last-minute viewing happens and you’re feeling a little less than prepared, there’s plenty you can do to spruce up your home in a hurry. With these quick jobs, it'll look spick and span and ready to impress — in less than two hours.

Clean the kitchen and bathroom – 30 mins

According to a Rightmove survey, dirty kitchens and bathrooms are a huge turn-off for potential buyers. Sweep and mop the floors, wipe down the surfaces and clean up any splashes. Make the area look neater by removing plastic soap bottles from the shower and magnets from your fridge.

Whip round with the hoover – 15 mins

Hoovering is a quick job that makes a big difference, leaving carpets looking clean and the air feeling less dusty. If you have a pet, you definitely want to make sure you find the time to clear out any pet hair (and pet smell along with it). 

Declutter and organise – 30 mins

Clutter is distracting and can make each room seem smaller. Pack away non-essential bits and bobs and stick to a maximum of three trinkets or picture frames on each surface.

There are other tricks to make home accessories look more appealing, such as grouping them in odd numbers of different sizes – so go for three candlesticks instead of two.

Put white linens on the bed – 15 mins

There's a reason most boutique hotels use plain white bedsheets – they're classic, fresh, and have universal appeal. If you don't have white bedsheets, don't worry. Just make sure that you throw on some clean sheets and that the bed is made neatly. It can make the whole room look brighter.

Add some finishing touches – 20 mins

A vase of fresh flowers in the window or some colourful throw pillows on the couch will make your home look lived-in and loved. Most importantly, it'll make it look like the kind of place your viewers will want to live in.

... And you should have 10 minutes to spare. So take a breath, have a cup of tea, and clear your head before the viewing. Want to make sure you hit all the right notes? Check out our how to host a viewing guide. You’ve got this.