June 17 2021
It’s no secret that moving and selling a house can be a stressful experience.
From not receiving as many offers as you’d like to no interest at all, there are many things that can cause a delay when you want to sell your home. We’re here to help you figure out how to add value to your property to pique the interest of those potential buyers and sell it at a price you feel reflects its value.
Remove any emotional ties to the home
Firstly, if you want to successfully move on into a new property, you need to detach yourself emotionally. Buyers aren’t concerned if your kitchen was the location of your first home cooked roast dinner or if your hallway was where your baby took their first steps. You need to remind yourself why you’re selling this house and the opportunity it offers, allowing you to create a new home elsewhere. Detaching yourself emotionally can help you think strategically like a buyer to better market your property.
Thankfully, there are many simple changes you can make to add value to your home and easy things to do that should make it more attractive to a potential buyer.
How to add value to your home
There are many things you can do to add value to your home and bear in mind that most of these will require you to spend some of your personal time and money. But, to make sure you get the biggest return on your investment, you should assess where is best in your home to invest your finances.
We recommend considering updating the following:
Windows
One of the most effective ways to add value to a property is to address the external fixtures and fittings. Updating the quality of old doors and upgrading to double-glazed windows will improve the insulating properties of a home and also reduce the risk of damp and mould.
Kitchen
A kitchen is the heart of any home so it’s important you make it look appealing as possible. A kitchen needs to be functional as well as inviting. This doesn’t mean it has to be kitted out with the latest mod-cons, but it does need to have working basics. Focus on the elements that will be left behind. Give the oven a good clean inside and out and focus on removing any limescale from taps and making the draining board sparkle. You could even give your cupboard doors a new lease of life with some gloss or specialist cupboard paint, which could be just what is needed to transform the space.
Bathroom
Bathrooms can be tricky to transform. They are typically the smallest room in the house and may require a hired plumber to do some of the legwork. But, creating a clean and neat bathroom is a must when trying to sell your home. Whether you have the means to change the tiles or just need to refresh the sealant around the bath and sink; a clean bathroom can turn a consideration into a sale.
Carpets
An unkempt floor is not very inviting, so it’s important that you address what’s under your feet throughout the whole house. Whether the carpet needs cleaning or changing considering sprucing up tired flooring with a fresh carpet, lino, tiles or wood.
How to make it more appealing to new buyers?
Ultimately you want to create a blank canvas, which can help potential buyers picture themselves living there. Make it as easy as possible for them to move in and make it their home. There are several things you can do that will help them see the bigger picture.
De-clutter
One of the first things you should do when considering a big move is to have a deep clean and de-clutter. From giving you less furniture to move, to opening up the space in your home; getting rid of the things you don’t want or need can have many benefits.
Clearing any clutter will make your home appear more attractive in photos which can help lure potential buyers through the door to view your property. You may find that decluttering is also a cathartic experience, that can help you process this step forward. Make the most of this opportunity and donate your worthy unwanted belongings to charity or sell them to make some money to put towards decorating your new home.
Use storage
Even after decluttering you will more than likely still need to reduce your furniture. Research has found that removing bulky items to maximise space can push the value of a property up by 11%. This is because a cluttered property looks smaller and so buyers aren’t as likely to offer the full price. In fact, most estate agents say a minimalist approach to décor leads to homes selling for more, with 38% saying it increases the price every time.
This doesn’t mean you have to sell all of your furniture. If you don’t want to throw it away, you can simply move it into one of our storage units. Then, once your house is sold, you can pick it up at a time that suits you to feature in your new home. This will also take some of the stress out of moving day as you have fewer belongings to get from the old house to the new one.
Aesthetics
Once the property is structurally sound and you’ve made some improvements to the fixtures and fittings you can look into making it appear more aesthetically pleasing. With bulky furniture removed, paint each room in a bright, airy and inviting colour. Enhance your living room, for example, with coloured fabrics, matching curtains and plump cushions to add warmth and a cosy vibe to the room.
There are also other things you can do to make your more attractive such as filling the property with the aroma of freshly baked bread or just-brewed coffee. Fresh linen scented air fresheners can work well in bedrooms.
Hopefully, once you have done this, your home will sell before you know it and perhaps for even more than you were expecting!
