News & Views Blog

When you first decide to put your home on the market, ensure that you check out what else is on the market in your area, and price your home realistically.

Bedrooms add value 

If there is a room that you use for storage or a playroom that could be used as a bedroom, clear it out and put a bed in it.

Aesthetic Appeal

Concentrate on the aesthetic appeal of your property. Remember, first impressions are everything and buying a home is an emotive process.

Make sure that the front of your property looks appealing. Don’t forget to tend to the front garden and avoid bold or tacky statements such as garden gnomes and ostentatious ornaments. What is parked outside your home can also make a big difference. 75 per cent of buyers say they would be put off a property by broken down vehicles and caravans parked outside.

Smaller aesthetic improvements can add significant value to your home but don’t have to break the bank – a fresh coat of neutral paint can do wonders in helping to appeal to buyers, and is obviously the most economical way to make over your home.  If you are short of time or money, focus your attentions on the main living area and the kitchen, as this is where most people spend the majority of their time and getting the look right can sell a property.

Most gardens look a bit of wreck in the winter, but it’s a good time to do some landscaping ahead of the spring – that’s when gardens look their best and the housing market is at its busiest.  Make sure it’s tidy, swept and the grass edges are neat, even in winter.  There is a tendency to think that merely having a garden is enough to attract buyers.  The reality is that 85 per cent of dwellings in the UK have a garden and one that is in a state of neglect is more likely to put off potential buyers than attract them. 

Cleaniness 

It may seem obvious, but the most important point is to make sure your home is clean. A lot of sellers forget to clean the windows and prevent the maximum amount of light getting into the house. On a dull day, make sure you turn the lights on for a viewing and, if possible, use mirrors in rooms to make them look bigger and reflect the available light.

Structural Repairs

Don’t try and cover up structural problems as these will be revealed by a survey and hold up proceedings later down the line. But don’t spend money on hidden benefits such as energy efficiency, despite publicity about it. This will be a deciding factor for very few buyers – reports from estate agents and from our own research show that only around 7 per cent of buyers even look at an Energy Performance Certificates.

Adding Value 

The money you spend on hidden improvements will not be reflected in buyers’ offers. If you invest in the appearance of the property, you are more likely to add immediate value to your home.

Consider the value of your home when deciding what to change. For a smaller, lower value property, more expensive work like a new kitchen will never be recouped in the sale price. But for a large high value home, a swanky new kitchen could more than pay for itself and appeal to more buyers too.

Whatever improvements you make, ensure you put your own priorities aside and concentrate on how to appeal to the majority market. My top tip is to avoid bold statements both inside and out – prospective buyers like to see a neutral décor on which they could stamp their own identity.

As an extension of this, avoid clutter and mess – it can make it harder for buyers to picture themselves living there, as well as sending out a message that the property is uncared for. Clear excess clutter out, particularly things that are personal to you, such as photos, and put them into storage if necessary.