🏠 Planning a Council House Swap in East or West Sussex? Here’s How to Get Your Property Ready

If you're planning a council house swap in East or West Sussex, first impressions are everything. Whether you’re in Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, or any Sussex village in between, the condition of your home can have a big impact on how quickly you find a suitable match — and how smoothly the swap goes.

At R Drummond & Son, we help council tenants across Sussex prepare their homes for viewings and swaps with fast, affordable painting and decorating services. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get your property swap-ready, why it matters, and how local decorating support can make a difference.

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✅ Why Your Sussex Home’s Appearance Matters in a Council House Swap

Council house swaps (also known as mutual exchanges) rely on two tenants agreeing to switch homes. While the process is managed through your local council or housing association, you’re ultimately selling the idea of your home to someone else.

🖌 A clean, freshly decorated home makes your swap easier to secure:

• It gives a better first impression during viewings

• It helps your photos stand out in Facebook and council swap listings

• It shows you're a responsible tenant, likely to have looked after the property

• It often leads to faster agreements and fewer back-and-forth negotiations

If you’re swapping from a property in Seaford, Lewes, Hailsham, Bognor Regis, or Eastbourne, making your home look its best helps it compete with the many other listings in these active areas.

🧹 Step 1: Declutter and Clean

Before you even think about decorating, make sure your home is clean and clutter-free. This helps potential swappers imagine themselves in the space.

Focus on:

• Tidying up bedrooms, hallways, and kitchens

• Removing personal items during photos or viewings

• Deep-cleaning any stains or marks

If you're in areas like Uckfield, Peacehaven, Littlehampton, or Hassocks, where swaps move fast, standing out visually is key.

🎨 Step 2: Repaint High-Traffic Areas

Scuffed hallways, marked walls, or bold paint colours can put people off. A fresh coat of neutral paint can do wonders.

At R Drummond & Son, we offer fast turnaround repainting services for:

• Living rooms and lounges

• Hallways and stairwells

• Kitchens and bathrooms

• Bedrooms and wardrobes

• Doors, skirting, and woodwork

We cover every area of East and West Sussex, including:

• Brighton

• Hove

• Worthing

• Chichester

• Arundel

• Shoreham

• East Grinstead

• Haywards Heath

• Newhaven

• Bexhill-on-Sea

• Polegate

• Lewes

Our affordable decorating services are ideal for tenants who want to make their homes more attractive without spending a fortune.

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🧱 Step 3: Repair Before You Swap

Fix the small things before someone else notices them:

• Fill in holes where shelves or picture frames were

• Touch up peeling paint or flaking window frames

• Secure loose skirting boards

• Seal edges of baths or sinks if mould has built up

If you're doing a council swap in Brighton, Hove, or Crawley, where competition is high, small details like this can make or break a deal.

🖼 Step 4: Update Your Photos

Once you’ve cleaned, repainted, and repaired — take new photos for your swap advert. Good photos in groups like “Council House Exchange South East” or “Mutual Exchange East Sussex” make your listing more clickable.

📸 Tips:

• Take photos in daylight with curtains open

• Show the best angles of each room

• Keep photos clear of people and clutter

• Add a note like: "Freshly painted throughout – ready to move in"

🛠 Affordable Decorating Help for Sussex Tenants

Not everyone has the time, tools, or energy to do their own decorating — especially if you're working, caring for kids, or managing a tight moving deadline.

That’s where we come in.

R Drummond & Son offers:

• Interior repainting for council flats, houses & maisonettes

• Exterior painting of fences, sheds, and doors

• Fast turnarounds across East & West Sussex

• Weekend and short-notice availability

• Affordable prices for local tenants and landlords

We’re fully insured, experienced, and based in Sussex — ready to help with your swap preparation in areas like:

• Hailsham

• Steyning

• Rottingdean

• Saltdean

• East Dean

• Petworth

• Burgess Hill

• Lancing

• Rustington
  

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💬 Final Thoughts: Council House Swap Success Starts with Presentation

If you're swapping council homes anywhere in East Sussex or West Sussex, making your property clean, neutral, and well-presented can significantly increase your chances of finding the right match quickly.

Even small jobs like repainting a hallway or refreshing a living room can make a huge difference.

Let R Drummond & Son help you put your best foot forward — so you can secure your swap, move with confidence, and leave a lasting positive impression.

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