Selling a house, in 2026, seems about as difficult as it is for first-time buyers attempting to buy a house. The property market is in somewhat of a stalemate at present, thanks to a combination of factors stemming from the cost-of-living crisis and from changing relationships with financial products like buy-to-let mortgages.
To cut a long story very, very short, buyers are, generally speaking, more selective and value-driven than ever before.
Despite rising house prices, sellers are often cutting their losses on a highly competitive market. How, then, can you avoid the same pitfalls? Here, let’s explore three essential tricks to make your property stand out from the pack – and to avoid the dreaded market purgatory of no viewings, no offers and no end to your time on the market.
Prioritise energy efficiency and modern functionality
A common thread you’ll find in marketing your house to prospective buyers is that of meeting them where they are. You can’t please every individual buyer, but you can read the movement of the collective – and one key direction the collective is moving towards is that of energy efficiency. This isn’t to say that all buyers are eco-conscious, but that energy efficiency touches a wide variety of pain points for the average household.
Energy efficiency means lower energy bills in the winter; it means a more passively comfortable living situation in colder weeks and months; it means breathing space for the tight-of-budget. And yes, it means a moral high ground for those that care about the environment.
With all this in mind, you want to shoot for a high Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, by integrating energy-saving features like upgraded insulation, smart thermostats, or a modern, high-efficiency heating system like a heat pump. The latter is not the cheapest of investments, but using financial products like homeowner loans can help you offset costs, enabling you to access the profits inherent to a more desirable energy-efficient home.
Master “warm neutral” staging
Meeting your buyers where they are also means considering their taste – or, more accurately, eliminating your own taste from the equation when it comes time to sell. Buyers aren’t always engaged enough to try and look past your décor choices, whatever they may be; generalising your home is the best way to create a blank canvas everyone can imprint their own ideas onto.
But don’t take inspiration from other sellers on this one. If you do, you’ll find a sea of indistinguishable grey and white boxes, more uninspiring than anything. To stand out, your home needs to feel inviting and curated rather than clinical. To do this, use a palette of earthy tones, such as terracotta, sage green, or soft off-whites, to add warmth to living spaces without making them too interesting. Use mirrors to bounce light into darker corners, and ensure every room has a clear, singular purpose to help viewers envision their own life in the property.
Maximise “first impression” kerb appeal
Finally, and with the buyer firmly in mind, minimise the mental work they have to do in seeing value in your property by maximising kerb appeal. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint in a sophisticated, modern colour, and clean your windows and gutters before pictures are taken. A recently mowed lawn can do a great deal for buyer interest!