Thinking of Selling in 2026? 5 Things to Fix Before You Call an Agent

A stress-free guide to getting your Norwich home market-ready this January.

The decorations are coming down, the leftover turkey is finally gone, and you have started asking the big question: "Is 2026 the year we move?"

January is the busiest time for people browsing Rightmove. We call it the "fresh start" effect. If you are thinking about putting your home on the market in NR2 or the surrounding areas, you might be tempted to call us immediately... But hold on.

To get the best possible valuation and make the process smoother, there are five small jobs you can do before we even step through the door. You don't need to renovate the kitchen or repaint the whole house. Just a few tweaks can make a massive difference to that first impression.

Here is our checklist for getting sale-ready this winter.

1. The "Winter" Kerb Appeal Check

In the summer, a hanging basket does the heavy lifting. But in January and February, viewings often happen when it is grey or getting dark.

Stand across the street from your house at 4pm. Can you clearly read your house number? Is the outside light working? Does the front door look inviting or a bit grim?
A quick wipe down of the front door and a working bulb in the porch makes buyers feel safe and welcome before they even knock.

2. The Christmas Hangover

We love Christmas. But nothing dates a property photo faster than a sad-looking piece of tinsel in the corner.
If we take photos of your lounge in January with a tree in the background, and your house is still on the market in March, buyers will subconsciously think: "This has been sitting here for months."
Do yourself a favour and do the "big takedown" before we come to take the photos. It opens up the floor space and makes the room look bigger.

3. The Scent Test

Winter means windows are closed, heating is on, and clothes are drying on radiators. To you, it smells like home. To a buyer, it might smell like "damp" or "wet dog."
We are sensitive to smells when we walk into a new place. Before a valuation or viewing, try to avoid drying laundry on the radiators. Brew some fresh coffee or bake something simple. It is an estate agent cliché for a reason—it works.

4. Attack the "Doom Piles"

We are not expecting a show home. We know you live there! But we all have those "doom piles"—the stack of post on the kitchen counter, the coats dumped on the banister, the shoes by the back door.
You don't need to empty the house. Just clear the flat surfaces. Buyers need to be able to see the worktop space and the floor space to imagine their own things there.

5. Dig Out the Boring Paperwork

This is the number one thing that delays sales later on. While you are in "admin mode" for the New Year, find these documents:

• Your boiler service record (and the installation certificate).
• Any electrical safety certificates.
• Planning permission or building regs for any extensions or knocked-through walls.

Having these ready at the valuation shows us you are serious and organised. It also means that when we find you a buyer, the solicitors can move much faster.