Savills Portugal

For anyone thinking of selling their home, getting the timing right and presenting it in the most appealing way has always been important. But this summer the impact of coronavirus on what people want from where they live, coupled with the current stamp duty holiday, should give potential sellers even more food for thought.

Although the window for taking advantage of the tax cut is open until the end of March 2021, realistically it’s the properties already for sale or coming to the market soon that stand the best chance of appealing to buyers eager to capitalise on the savings.

For many a speedy sale will therefore be of the essence. Here are some tips that could help:

Be aware of the stamp duty time frame To take advantage you ideally need to get your home on the market before the end of the summer.

Be realistic about price The market is price sensitive and buyers, though keen, have done their homework on values. Properties that are perceived as over-priced will linger.

Demonstrate any successful working from home solutions It won’t come as a surprise to hear that buyers are looking for WFH space and that a couple will ideally want separate areas so they can both work in peace. Even if a house already has a study, some buyers are looking at more bedrooms than they might ordinarily need in order to convert one into an office.

Turn your garden into a real feature Gardens have become even more of a focus since lockdown and many buyers have become avid veg growers. So if you have outside space make sure it’s as well maintained as possible to showcase its full potential. Outside dining is high on the agenda and those viewing properties with large gardens are often looking for several different eating areas in order to follow the sun.

Be prepared in the kitchen Another by-product of lockdown is a burgeoning interest in the culinary arts. Kitchens are always important but are likely to receive even more scrutiny on viewings now.

The big declutter It’s more important than ever to demonstrate the space within your home and a lockdown clear-out of garages, lofts and sheds will certainly help maximise impact. Think lifetime clean rather than spring clean. It’s also worth remembering why you fell in love with your home in the first place as buyers could well feel the same way – rooms often take on a different function as families grow, so consider returning them to their original use.

Gather your paperwork Missing documents can spark queries and delays. To give yourself the best chance of a speedy sale, dig out those guarantees and any paperwork that will help a buyer understand the running costs of your home.

Here is a selection of properties currently on the market that are likely to achieve a speedy sale this summer.