How do I prepare my apartment for sale?
Short answer: The best preparation is to “start moving out”: pack away the clothes and belongings you will not need over the next few weeks and clear the property out substantially. The fewer possessions on show, the larger and brighter the space feels, and the easier it is for the buyer to picture themselves in it. After that, clean unusually thoroughly – and the glass and windows above all, because clean glass immediately gives the impression that the building has been well looked after.
Start moving out
Think of it as already having started your move. You are not tidying up for the buyer – you are doing work you have to do anyway, just earlier.
Pack away the clothes and belongings you will not need over the coming weeks and months. The fewer clothes and possessions on show, the “lighter” the property becomes: the space looks larger and the contents stop being overwhelming.
This matters most in three places:
- Windows and window sills. Objects in windows take light and block the view.
- Shelves. Half-empty shelves read as space; crammed shelves read as cramped.
- Tables and kitchen worktops. Clear surfaces are what make photographs look clean.
When windows, shelves and tables are crowded with things, the eye is distracted. A prospective buyer then finds it harder to picture the property empty – or to see how they would make the space their own with their own furniture.
Clean remarkably well – and then a little better
Cleaning before a sale is not ordinary cleaning. It can go further than you would ever go for yourself, and it should be done after the property has been cleared out and after anything that needs fixing has been fixed.
Pay particular attention to:
- Glass and windows, outside and in.
- The kitchen: oven, extractor hood, taps, cupboards inside and out.
- The bathroom: grout, shower enclosure, mirrors, taps.
- Floors, skirting boards and the corners where dust gathers.
- Doors and door frames, especially around the handles.
Why are glass and windows a point of their own?
This is one of the most underrated parts of the preparation.
When the glass is dirty, a prospective buyer feels the house has not been well looked after – and that the windows may even be due for replacement. That is an expensive thought to plant in a buyer’s head, because it carries straight over into the offer they make.
When the glass is clean the space is brighter and the view out of the window is unobstructed. That alone gives the impression that the building is in good condition. Same window, same house, an entirely different conclusion.
The order matters
Doing things in the right order saves you work:
- Decluttering and packing. Otherwise you are cleaning around your belongings.
- Repairs – trim, switches, touch-ups, paint where it is needed.
- Deep clean, glass last.
- Photography and video – both in the same visit.
- The property goes on the market and the marketing begins.
A property that goes on the market half-finished never gets its first day back, and the first days are the ones that deliver the most views. When the property is then promoted with professional photographs and paid social media advertising, the field Baldur fasteignasali (licensed estate agent) specialises in, the preparation is what the images show.
The video is filmed at the same time as the photographs, in a single visit. That means the property only has to be fully ready once – but it does have to be ready that day, because both the photographs and the video depend on what is in front of the camera at that moment.
In short
- Begin by “starting to move out” and clearing the property out substantially.
- Clear surfaces in windows, on shelves and on tables calm the eye and make the space read larger.
- Clean well beyond an ordinary clean.
- Clean glass suggests a building in good condition; dirty glass does the opposite.
- Finish the preparation before the photographs are taken; the photographs and video are done in the same visit.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take down personal items such as family photographs? You do not need to strip the walls, but it helps to cut the number of personal items back substantially. The aim is for the buyer to look at the space itself rather than at somebody else’s home.
What if I have already moved out and the property is empty? An empty property is perfectly acceptable, but cleaning and lighting then matter even more, because nothing draws attention away from the walls and floors. Go over touch-ups, trim and bulbs before the photographs are taken.
Get in touch
It costs nothing to have the property looked over before it goes on the market and to get a list of what is worth fixing. Contact Baldur Jezorski, licensed real estate agent (löggiltur fasteignasali), on 450-0000 or send a message via 450.is for more information on preparing your apartment for sale and on how it will be presented. Free and without obligation.
Related articles
- How can I increase the sale value of my property?
- Is it worth painting before selling?
- Which renovations are not worth it before selling?
Thinking of selling? Get a free valuation from Baldur Jezorski, licensed real estate agent in Hafnarfjörður, reply within 24 hours.
Algengar spurningar
How do I prepare my apartment for sale?
The best preparation is to start moving out: pack away the clothes and belongings you will not need over the next few weeks and clear the property out, so the space feels larger and brighter. After that, clean unusually thoroughly, and the glass and windows above all, because clean glass gives the impression that the building has been well looked after.
Should I take down personal items such as family photographs?
You do not need to strip the walls, but it helps to cut the number of personal items back substantially, so the buyer looks at the space itself rather than at somebody else's home.
What if I have already moved out and the property is empty?
An empty property is acceptable, but cleaning and lighting then matter even more because nothing draws attention away from the walls and floors. Go over touch-ups, trim and bulbs before the photographs are taken.