10 top tips to sell your home quickly this New Year
Ready to sell your home in 2020?
With a tricky property market in an uncertain climate, it’s even more important to make the most of your property by preparing well in advance of listing.
So, we’ve come up with 10 top tips to help you spruce up your property, ready for viewings.
Exterior appeal
It’s true what they say- first impressions really do count.
According to a survey report by conveyancing services firm, My Home Move, house hunters know very quickly whether they like a property, with 26% making the decision to buy their home even before viewing the whole property.
It also found that 18% make the decision within 30 seconds of entering the property and 8% knowing the property is for them before even entering.
So, it is important to make sure that hedges are neat and paths and gutters are clear from debris that has collected over these winter months.
Remove any children’s toys that may be present, and any bins can be hidden in a bin store or kept around the side of the property for the time being.
If you have a wooden front door, a fresh lick of paint will help to transform the front appearance of your home and give it the ‘wow’ factor that it needs.
Consider extra planting in pots and, if you have off-street parking, consider parking your car elsewhere before the viewing takes place so that the prospective buyers can feel the benefit of having it for themselves as they arrive.
Depersonalise
It is important for the prospective buyers to be able to imagine living in what is currently your home. Taking down and storing many of your family photographs and other personal items will help them to do this.
Declutter
As well as removing many of your personal items, it is a good idea to also look at de-cluttering your rooms. Take a look around each room and see if you have anything that can be packed. These may include ornaments, books, dvds and any posters on the walls.
Look to also store any extra furniture that you have around, leaving furniture that fits the room for it’s purpose. The more room you can create, the better.
Revamp & replace
Making minor repairs and replacing for new, can make a real difference to the overall look and feel of your home. Make the small details a priority now.
- Fix leaky taps
- Replace broken lightbulbs
- Repair cracks in the walls/ceilings
- Replace old or cracked tiles
- Touch up paint or repaint
- Buy a new shower curtain
Spring clean
It is well worth giving your home a real deep clean before opening your doors to the public.
Your spring clean to do list should include cleaning skirting boards, windows and dusting all fixtures and fittings. Also, don’t forget to clean the large kitchen appliances, including that dreaded job of scrubbing the hob and oven!
Light & airy
One of the key things to add perceived value to your property is to maximise the feeling of space and light.
Lots of natural light is usually at the top of the list of things people are looking for in a home.
If you feel you are lacking in lots of lovely natural light, there are some tricks that you can do to help with this.
Hanging a large mirror will help to reflect light around the room and decorating the room with special light-reflecting paint, sold by some brands, will all really help to introduce light back into any room.
On gloomy days, turning lamps on will help make your home cheery and bright. A statement candelabra or contemporary piece will add sparkle to your property.
Make it look pretty
As well as making sure all beds are neatly made, a display of fresh flowers, or fresh fruit in a bowl can help to make a room look loved.
Don’t forget the smells
Bad smells can be a huge turn off when viewing a house, so it is important to consider getting rid of any dog smells (or any other pets), and even leaving the fish for your dinner for another day.
Ensure your house is aired and choose a nice scent to fill your home for at least an hour before the viewing takes place.
Think about your pets
Talking of pet smells, consider finding another place for your pets to go during the viewings. No buyer wants to be greeted at the door by a Great Dane and it can be a stressful time for them too.
Leave it to the experts
If you have an estate agent who will be marketing your property, why not leave it to them to do the viewing? A potential buyer is likely to spend longer looking around your house without your presence. You could go and enjoy a visit to your local coffee shop whilst the viewing is taking place!
Osborne Morris & Morgan
Our award-winning Conveyancing solicitors at Osborne Morris & Morgan are renowned for their excellent communication and professionalism, and are on hand to help you at every step of the way. To receive a free fixed-fee quotation on your Conveyancing, or to make an enquiry, you can call us on 01525 378177 or contact us online.