When it comes to selling your home, you’re likely to get a barrage of advice from lots of different places. Everything from how to attract the right buyers to how to increase the asking price – and probably most things in between! But there are only so many things you can do, and so much time and money you want to invest in a property you won’t own for much longer! So at Northwood we’ve got together a few of our best-known tips that are simple, easy to implement and will help your property stand out from the rest during viewings.
De-Clutter
The first and perhaps simplest thing you can do to make your home stand out is give it a good de-clutter! You’ve probably seen at some point in your life the horribly cluttered pictures of properties you can find on Rightmove and other property sites, and you’ll know that no matter how lovely a property is, it can be difficult for buyers to see past all the stuff. Even if it’s all clean and organised, too much crammed into a space can make it feel smaller and more claustrophobic, which is enough to put a buyer off. So, before you start your photos spend some time de-cluttering your home. You don’t have to throw anything away, but even moving some of the extra items into a storage unit while you’re showing the property can make a big difference. Plus, this will make the process of packing and moving so much easier.
Deep Clean
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many properties go onto the market with dirty windows, stains on the carpets or dust covering the old bookshelves. You might be thinking that homebuyers will be able to see past a little dust, and that’s true, but putting a less than cleanly home on the market can be off-putting for an entirely different reason. A dirty property gives buyers the impression of a lazy seller and, if you’re going to cut corners when it comes to something as simple as cleaning, who knows what else you might have overlooked? Besides, a good clean can make a property look completely different, so it’s always worth doing.
Consider Painting
This one might require a little bit of elbow grease (or hiring a decorator), but a fresh coat of paint can do wonders when it comes to brightening up a property. Even the whitest of walls will fade over time, and just living in a house will cause all sorts of scuffs, fading and chips to the paintwork that add up over time. If you think you’ve got a property with a little too much ‘personality’ or ‘lived in feel’, consider touching up some of the worst offending walls with some nice neutral colours. Neutral coloured walls are an extra bonus, as it helps the buyer envision what they would do with the property, without vibrant colours or loud wallpaper to distract them.
Fix Up your Floors
Flooring is tough one, because if your flooring is well and truly worn in then it can be a bit pricey to fix. But old floors can be a real turn-off for potential buyers, so it’s worth taking a look at their condition and seeing if you could improve them. Poorly kept or clashing floors can really damage the likelihood of you making a sale, as it’s one of the first things a buyer will see when they come into the house (besides the walls). If you’ve got some old 90’s carpets, tiles with discoloured, grubby grouting or lino that could do with re-laying, it’s best to get it fixed or at least professionally cleaned.
At Northwood, we are dedicated to helping homeowners sell their home to the right buyers at the right price, and at the right time for them. If you would like to know more, or want some free, impartial advice, just get in touch with one of the team today.
