In an ever competitive housing market, it has never been so important to make your home stand out from the crowd when the time comes to sell up.
This will help you not only by securing the quickest possible sale, but by also ensuring you receive the best possible price for your home.
Where to start?
There are a number of relatively easy changes you can make to your home which can make a huge difference to the impression your home makes on prospective buyers. We run down a few of our top things to do…
Tidy up the exterior
When a potential buyer turns up to view your house, the first thing they will see is the exterior of your home. Prior to your house going on the market it is important to make sure that anybody who drives past sees your house in the best possible condition.
Sort out that missing roof tile, clean the windows and pressure wash that mould off the bricks, weed the garden and give that fence a lick of paint.
Lighten up
We aren’t talking about cracking jokes to anybody who turns up to your house for a viewing… we are talking about turning your home from a dingy one to a bright one.
One of the first steps you can take (if you have ignored the above paragraph) is to clean those windows!
You should also consider buying brighter and more energy efficient lights, making your home incredibly welcoming, especially in the darker winter months.
If you have a bit of budget behind you, consider going one further and install a skylight or patio doors to increase the levels of natural light entering your home.
Decorate
If your home needs decorating, it’s a good idea to get it all out of the way before your house is put on the market. Carrying out odd jobs like changing worn out wallpaper and broken window handles can turn your home from one which ‘needs work’ to one which is ready to move into.
It’s important here to keep your home neutral, in order to appeal to all visitors. We wouldn’t rush into painting the walls bright yellow or putting down a purple carpet. We have a fantastic range of plain wallpapers from multiple designers to create a luxurious look which appeals to all.
Look down
If the carpets in your home are old, you may want to consider replacing them. Another option though, is to subject the carpets to a thorough clean. Some home carpet cleaning kits are available to buy or rent, alternatively some companies specialise in carpet cleaning and can offer some impressive rates.
If you have wooden floors in your house, a great option to brighten up/freshen up a room is to get the floor sanded and then re varnished.
Go eco friendly
All houses are now rated on a scale of how energy efficient they are. These ratings are displayed your houses catalogue page, poor results can easily ward off potential buyers… especially with rising household fuel bills.
The good news is that there are a number of options available which means your house can climb up the ‘green’ rankings. Many DIY stores sell loft insulation for as little as £1 a roll, there are also grants available from the government for other types of work including installing double glazing, solar panels and cavity wall insulation.
Improve Security
If you have a few dodgy locks or a particularly easy to break into window, it’s probably a good time to get them changed. Security and safety is an important factor for any house hunter.
Make your house easy to live in
Make sure everything is clean and tidy, if space is at a premium store some stuff in your car whilst you have visitors. There is nothing worse than walking round house thinking ‘There’s no space for my belongings’
Some people buy containers to store their stuff, however we don’t agree with buying more stuff to keep your stuff in… Just one to think about.
Think about putting in handy little extras like more plug sockets… again there is nothing worse than wires trailing all over a house.
Don’t overspend…
Beware of overspending. Yes, spending more money can make your house worth more, but be wary of your house having a ceiling price no matter what is spent on it. If you are unsure of what this price may be, speak to your estate agent.
