What to Check Before Marketing a Property in London

Preparing a property for sale or rent involves more than taking photographs and writing a property description. Before a London property goes live, it is important to check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), property information, photography, floor plan and final listing details.

Having these elements ready can make the marketing process more organised and give potential buyers or tenants a clearer picture of the property.

If you are preparing a property for the market, this property marketing checklist can help you work through the main steps.

1. Check Your EPC First

The EPC should be one of the first things you check when preparing a property for sale or rent.

An Energy Performance Certificate provides an energy-efficiency rating from A to G and includes information about the property’s energy performance.

Before arranging a new assessment, check whether the property already has a valid EPC.

You can use the official GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate service to search for an existing certificate.

If you need to arrange a new assessment, it is useful to do this early rather than waiting until the property is ready to be advertised.

For more information about what happens after the assessment, read What Happens After an EPC Assessment? A London Property Owner’s Next Steps.

2. Prepare for the EPC Assessment

If your property needs a new EPC, preparing the property before the assessor arrives can make the appointment easier.

Make sure the assessor can access the relevant areas of the property.

It can also be useful to have information about recent improvements available, such as:

New windows
Insulation improvements
Heating upgrades
Boiler replacement
Hot water improvements
Other energy-efficiency work

Our guide How to Prepare for an EPC Assessment in London: Complete Guide explains what property owners can do before the assessment.

Preparing the property early can also help you organise the rest of your marketing materials.

3. Prepare the Property for Photography

Once your EPC requirements are under control, prepare the property itself.

Professional property photography can help show the property clearly to potential buyers and tenants.

Before the photographer arrives, consider:

Cleaning rooms
Removing unnecessary clutter
Making beds
Tidying kitchens
Cleaning bathrooms
Opening curtains and blinds
Hiding unnecessary cables
Organising gardens and outdoor areas
Making important features visible

Small preparation tasks can make the photographs more consistent and suitable for property marketing.

For a wider preparation process, read How to Get Your London Property Ready for Sale or Rent: A Complete Marketing Checklist.

4. Arrange a Professional Floor Plan

Photographs show how a property looks, but they do not always explain how the rooms connect.

A professional floor plan can help potential buyers and tenants understand:

Room arrangement
Bedroom locations
Bathroom locations
Living areas
Property layout
How different rooms connect

This can be particularly useful for flats, apartments, houses with extensions and properties with unusual layouts.

A floor plan can work alongside your photographs and EPC to create a more complete property listing.

5. Check Your Rental Listing Information

If you are preparing a rental property, there are several details that should be checked before the listing goes live.

These can include:

Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Property type
Furnishing status
Heating information
Parking
Garden or balcony
Property features
Availability date
Rental price
EPC information

The photographs, floor plan and written description should all relate to the same property and provide consistent information.

For a dedicated rental preparation guide, see Rental Property Listing Checklist London: EPC, Photos & Floor Plan.

6. Create a Complete Property Marketing Package

A property listing normally contains several different types of information.

The EPC provides energy-efficiency information.

Professional photography shows the appearance of the property.

The floor plan explains the layout.

The written description provides additional information about the property’s features and location.

Combining these elements can make the listing more useful to potential buyers and tenants.

For estate agents and property professionals, our guide Estate Agent Property Marketing Package London: EPC, Photography & Floor Plans explains how these services can be brought together.

7. Check the Property Description

Before publishing the listing, review the written property description carefully.

Make sure it accurately describes:

Property type
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Main living areas
Outdoor space
Parking
Heating
Storage
Recent improvements
Important property features

Avoid including information that does not accurately represent the property.

The description should also be consistent with the photographs and floor plan.

8. Check Your Property Photography

Before uploading photographs to a property portal or estate agency website, review the complete set.

Check that:

Important rooms are included
Images are clear
Bedrooms are correctly represented
Living areas are shown
Kitchens and bathrooms are included
Outdoor areas are shown where relevant
Images reflect the property’s current condition

The photographs should work together rather than simply showing as many rooms as possible.

9. Check Your Floor Plan

Before publishing the listing, check that the floor plan represents the current property.

Pay particular attention to:

Room names
Bedroom numbers
Bathroom locations
Extensions
Major alterations
Property layout
Approximate dimensions

If the property has changed since an older floor plan was created, consider whether an updated plan is required.

10. Check the EPC Information in the Listing

If an EPC is required, make sure the relevant information is available before the property is marketed.

GOV.UK provides official guidance on Energy Performance Certificates and property marketing requirements.

You can read the latest GOV.UK Energy Performance Certificate guidance for current information.

If your property has an expired certificate, you can also read Expired EPC in London: What to Do Next.

11. Prepare the Property for Viewings

Marketing does not end when the listing goes online.

Once enquiries start arriving, the property should also be ready for potential viewings.

Before launching the listing, consider:

Cleaning entrances and hallways
Checking lights
Tidying outdoor areas
Making rooms accessible
Removing unnecessary personal items
Making important property features easy to view

For rental properties that are occupied, make sure viewing arrangements are handled appropriately.

12. Consider Combining Property Services

Preparing an EPC, photography and floor plan separately can involve several appointments.

Depending on your requirements, combining services can make the preparation process easier.

EPC Rate London provides options for arranging property services together, including EPC, floor plan and property photography.

This can be useful for:

Homeowners
Landlords
Estate agents
Letting agents
Property managers
Property developers

The exact services required will depend on the property and what is already available.

13. A Simple Property Marketing Checklist

Before your London property goes live, work through this checklist.

EPC

Property

Photography

Prepare each room
Arrange professional photography
Review the completed photographs
Make sure important areas are included

Floor Plan

Arrange a floor plan
Check the layout
Check room names
Check that the plan reflects the current property

Listing

14. What If You Need to Market the Property Quickly?

Sometimes a property needs to be prepared for the market within a short timeframe.

A landlord may have a vacant property, while an estate agent may need to launch a new listing quickly.

In these situations, start with the essentials:

EPC → Photography → Floor Plan → Property Description → Final Listing

Checking the EPC first can help prevent delays later.

If you need several property services, ask whether they can be coordinated together rather than arranging every appointment separately.

15. Use Official Sources for Current Requirements

Property and EPC requirements can change, so it is important to check current official information when dealing with legal requirements.

For EPC information, use GOV.UK’s Energy Performance Certificate guidance.

For checking an existing certificate, use GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate.

These official sources should be used alongside professional advice where necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I check before marketing a property in London?

Start by checking the EPC, property details, photography, floor plan and written listing information. Make sure all of these elements accurately represent the same property.

Do I need an EPC before marketing my property?

In general, an EPC should be ordered before a property is marketed for sale or rent where one is required, subject to applicable exemptions.

Should I arrange photography before the property is advertised?

Preparing professional photographs before the listing goes live means your marketing materials can be ready when the property is published.

Is a floor plan important for property marketing?

A floor plan can help buyers and tenants understand the property’s layout and how different rooms connect.

What should a rental property listing include?

A rental listing can include an EPC, photographs, floor plan, property description, bedroom and bathroom information, property features, availability and rental price.

Can EPC, photography and floor plan services be arranged together?

EPC Rate London provides combined property service options, subject to the property and service requirements.

Final Thoughts

A successful property listing starts with preparation.

Before marketing your London property, check the EPC, prepare the property for photography, arrange a clear floor plan and review all the information that will appear in the final listing.

Keeping the EPC, photographs, floor plan and property description consistent can make the listing easier for potential buyers and tenants to understand.

If you are preparing a property for sale or rent, you can also explore the EPC Rate London property services or book your required services.