Preparing a property for sale in Malta

Start with the photos in mind

Most buyers see your property online before they see it in person, so the listing photos do a lot of the work. Two things make the biggest difference to how a Maltese home looks in photos: space and light. That means decluttering and clean glass.

This guide covers the practical preparation. For anything to do with the sale itself, such as contracts, what is included, deadlines or taxes, speak to your notary and estate agent.

1. Declutter every room

Buyers need to picture their own life in your home, not yours.

• Clear surfaces: kitchen worktops, bathroom shelves, bedside tables and sideboards.
• Reduce furniture so rooms feel bigger and walkways are clear.
• Put away personal items such as family photos, collections and paperwork.
• Thin out wardrobes and cupboards, because buyers open them.
• Remove anything broken or tired-looking.

If you are moving anyway, this is the time to decide what goes with you, what you will sell or give away, and what can be cleared. Our guide on how to get rid of old furniture in Malta covers your options.

If you are moving at the same time, our guide to decluttering before moving house has a room-by-room order and a week-by-week timeline.

2. Clear the garage, roof washroom and storerooms

Storage spaces are often the most cluttered parts of a Maltese home, and buyers want to see how big they really are.

• Garages that have become storerooms full of tools, old furniture and boxes.
• Roof washrooms packed with things kept just in case.
• Basements and storerooms with years of accumulated items.

Sort into keep, sell, give away and dispose of. Old paint, chemicals and gas cylinders need separate handling, so do not put them in the bin. If there is a lot, a house and garage clearance can empty these spaces in a day.

3. Clean every window and balcony door

Clean glass makes rooms look brighter and bigger, both in photos and at viewings. In Malta, glass gets dirty fast, from salt on the seafront, dust in summer, red rain and building work next door.

• Clean all glass inside and out, including balcony doors, patio sliders and glass balustrades.
• Clean frames, sills and sliding tracks, which buyers notice when they open doors.
• Clean behind persjani and shutters, where glass is often forgotten.
• Clean gallariji carefully if the house has a traditional balcony. See our guide on cleaning Maltese balconies.
• Time it right. Clean a few days before the photographer comes, and not during a dust episode.

Upper-floor glass reached only from outside is a job for a window cleaner. Our guide on cleaning windows without streaks covers what you can do yourself.

4. Present the roof as usable space

In Malta, buyers go up to the roof. A flat roof is valued as outdoor space, and a messy one makes the whole property feel neglected.

• Clear old items, timber, broken furniture and clutter.
• Sweep and clean the floor, and clear the roof drains.
• Tidy around water tanks, pipes and cables so the space looks cared for.
• Add a couple of chairs or plants to show how the space could be used, if it is safe to do so.
• Clean the roof washroom and leave it empty or simply arranged.

5. Clean the solar panels

If the property has solar panels, buyers will see them on the roof, and many will ask about them. Dusty, dropping-covered panels look neglected.

A clean before viewings makes the roof look cared for, and it means the panels are producing properly if a buyer asks about recent output. See our guides on how often to clean solar panels and bird droppings on solar panels, or book a solar panel clean.

6. Small fixes inside

• Touch up scuffed walls and paintwork.
• Fix dripping taps, sticking doors and loose handles.
• Clean grout and remove limescale in bathrooms and the kitchen.
• Replace dead light bulbs, so every room is bright at viewings.
• Check for damp and deal with any mould in bathrooms and closed rooms.

If you have a fireplace or stove, have it swept so it looks clean and is ready to use.

7. Before each viewing

• Open shutters and curtains to let in as much light as possible.
• Air the rooms, especially in summer and in older stone houses.
• Clear the entrance and make sure the front door and doorstep are clean.
• Put away everyday items: shoes, dishes, laundry and bins.

8. Between the promise of sale and the deed

Once the promise of sale, the konvenju, is signed, the work turns to getting the property ready to hand over.

• Ask your notary and agent exactly what stays with the property and when it needs to be empty. Do not remove fixtures, fittings or appliances until this is clear.
• Plan the clearance well before the deed date, not in the last week. Moving, sorting and clearing always take longer than expected.
• Book removals and clearance early, especially in busy months.
• Clear the whole property: every room, the garage, roof, washroom, storerooms and outdoor spaces.
• Deal with hazardous items such as old paint, chemicals and gas cylinders separately.

9. Handover

• Have the property swept and cleaned once it is empty.
• Take meter readings and arrange the utility accounts with the providers.
• Collect every key, including spares held by neighbours or family.
• Leave manuals and instructions for the water heater, solar panels, air conditioning and any stove.

Selling from abroad or clearing a family home

Many sellers in Malta live overseas, or are selling a family home after a parent has died or moved into care. In both cases, a clearance service that works to agreed dates, sets aside anything personal it finds, and leaves the property empty and swept can take a lot of pressure off. See our guide on clearing a parent’s home.

Let us get it ready

clear.mt arranges house and garage clearance, window cleaning and solar panel cleaning across Malta and Gozo, timed around your viewings and handover date. Send photos and your dates for a free quote.