So you’ve decided not to move house just yet. Concern about the credit crunch is making lots of people think twice about putting their property on the market – and sitting tight might seem like the best option. But when you do come to sell, you’ll no doubt want your home to impress when potential buyers visit. By investing a little TLC in your home now, you’ll be a step ahead of everyone else when it comes to viewings.
It’s the little things that will give your home the edge in a very competitive market. For starters, you should make sure that your home has got good ‘kerb appeal’. If you tidy up the front of your house, this will make a good first impression. Repainting your front door, making a tidy area for the bins and adding a few plants will all make a huge difference. When you’re ready to sell, it’s really worth cleaning your windows, repainting the frames and replacing any damaged roof tiles – this will lure the buyers.
When it comes to sprucing up the inside of your home, it’s essential to de-clutter the space. Too many belongings can be very distracting and will make rooms appear smaller. If you’ve got too many things and can’t tidy them away on shelves and in cupboards, hire a storage unit and stash them! Don’t go mad with the tidying, though, as people do want to see a ‘lived-in’ feel and not an empty shell – you want to show people the kind of lifestyle that they might find desirable. It pays to find out what kind of buyers you’ll be attracting – are they young couples or families?
If you don’t have the cash to replace a tired-looking kitchen, you can easily give it a fresh new look by painting over old tiles, getting replacement cupboard doors and new modern handles. None of this will break the bank – and will make a world of difference. The same goes for bathrooms – refresh tatty tiles with a grouting pen, and put a set of fluffy towels on display especially for viewings. If you have a garden, spend a bit of time tidying it up – mow the lawn and put in some big statement plants. You could buy or borrow some garden furniture – displaying it will help your buyer imagine themselves spending time in it.
It really pays to make a few small changes to your home – not only will you make it much more enticing when it comes to viewings, but you’ll appreciate your house so much more in the meantime. And none of this will break the bank!
For further information, see our ‘How To Guide’.
