We have seen the UK housing market going crazy for years. House prices soaring and demand for housing being so high, that homes have been sold in minutes.
In the last few months, however, we have started to see less activity in the market with reports that house hunters are at their lowest levels since 2013. And those that are buying property are being cautious.
So, with homebuyers taking their time over these decisions, how can you maximise the impact of your property?
First impressions count
Don’t underestimate the power of curb appeal. A potential buyer’s first view of your house will either be a photo on Rightmove, or by driving past the property.
If they don’t like what they see, they won’t go in and miss out on a lot of reasons why they might want to buy your property. So, it’s worth considering the following:
A lick of paint
Sprucing up the front can make a dramatic difference. You don’t need to go overboard, but painting the door frame and the garage will really smarten up the appearance.
If you can, do it yourself. Otherwise look for a local handyman. It will be a few hundred pounds investment, but it could really make a difference.
Flower power
Place some hanging baskets out front, trim the hedges, add some plant pots. A smart and flowery front will make a good impression.
Wash the car
This may seem a little odd, but if you have a car parked out front, give it a wash. Those first impressions really do count, so being confronted by a dirty car may be enough to put someone off from coming in.
It’s what’s inside that matters
Once you get those all-important viewings booked in, it’s essential you help them to view it as their house.
Zone up
Sometimes a buyer needs a bit of help to realize the potential of your property and envisage themselves living there. A bit of home staging can facilitate this. For example, if you don’t have separate dining or living spaces, then try to create an obvious zone for eating and relaxing.
Alternatively, if you have spare rooms, set them up as an office, or playroom, so a buyer can see the potential.
Tidy up
Your family mementos are precious to you, but keep them out the way while you are having house viewings. BUT don’t cram everything away into cupboards either, your buyers will most likely want to have a look in there as well!
A storage unit can be helpful to de-clutter your place and give it a clean slate for your buyers. Shurgard has different storage sizes, so you can tidy away into your storage unit and still access everything when you need it.
Smarten up
Some small switches and updates can really help smarten up your home to impress viewers.
Put up a new shower curtain, place a new throw over an old sofa, or roll up your towels. These little touches will really help.
Take care of repairs
It can also be worthwhile investing in small repair works round the house. Whether it’s creaky floorboards or leaky taps, these can all be negative distractions for a potential buyer, so get them fixed so they can focus on the positives.
The smell of success
You don’t need to go as far as baking bread, but try to avoid cooking something aromatic like a curry the night before!
And don’t forget the back!
Don’t forget the garden behind your house. It’s a really good idea to mow the grass and put out some pretty flower pots. An attractive garden can really add value to a property!
Good luck. What are your top tips for improving the saleability of your house? Let us know in the comments below.
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