IF YOU’RE ON A MISSION TO SELL YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER, HIS & HERS HAS A FEW SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY…
Spring and summer have been found to be the best times to sell your home. The jury’s still out on whether it’s just that people like to be cosy and in their new home in time for winter. But sales of homes happen much more in spring and summer. So if over the next few months you are planning to put your home up for sale, then you need to know the best ways to do so. It is a competitive market out there right now, so any help to get a quick sale is going to be a good thing, right?
So here are some pretty simple and quick fixes that you could be doing to your home, to make sure that you can sell your home sooner rather than later. As ever, it would be great to hear what you think and if you think that there is anything else that we should be adding to the list?
Make a Good First Impression
The first point is something that can be an easy win; the first impression. When someone rocks up to your house and sees the place for the first time, it will put them in a good mood or a negative mood straight away. Something that could put them off right away is things that are broken from the outside of the house. Think broken windows, broken lights, or damaged fencing. If you have a driveway, then it can be an easy win to have it jet washed, so that it is clean and free from a build up of mould, for example. The same goes for the outside of the house. So give your home a once over before you start having viewers, to check what could put them off from the start.
The next thing will be the first impression from the inside of the home. Shoes piled up by the front door, coats hung over the stairs, or a dodgy smell could all be things that can put people off right from the off. People want to buy a home that ticks all of the boxes for them. The obvious ones are price and size, but the smaller ones are things like a previous owner that looked after the home. So you need to demonstrate that the home has been well-looked after, and they’ll be in good hands if they buy it.
De-clutter All Over
If you are planning to move soon, then you can get a head start on your packing by starting to de-clutter the rooms a little bit. Creating a wow factor when someone walks into the room is always a good thing. And the wow factor that is going to help potential buyers is if the rooms look spotless, well styled, and clean. Not everyone is going to like your little trinkets or ornaments, or all of your photos on the walls. So de-clutter. If you want to take things with you, then pack them away in boxes and put them into storage ready for the move. You just want to have a home that looks as clear and clutter-free as possible.
Update The Bathroom
One of the rooms in the home that often amounts to a make or break decision for a potential buyer is the bathroom (or bathrooms). They are generally one of the more pricey things to get fixed, and if yours is looking a little tired, and an offer is made, it will be reflected in what they’d be willing to pay. So it is something that needs to be looked at if you want to get around the asking price (which will in turn, depend on what you’re able to offer on a new house of your own). So it could be worth looking for a reliable local bathroom company to come in and look at the bathroom and give you an idea of what needs to be updated and looked at. It could be needing to just get a new toilet fitted, a lick of paint or some new tiles, to having the whole thing re-done. If the latter is the case, then just check what your budget is, and if you think you’d be able to get your money back from the sale.
Use Mirrors
Mirrors can work like magic in a home that you are trying to sell, as they can create the illusion of space, as well as making a room look lighter and brighter. So it is a good idea to use them strategically around the house. In smaller spaces, like landings or hallways, they can work wonders. They can be used well in things like bathrooms too, as they tend to be rooms that are filled with light. A well-placed mirror or two can make a massive difference to the look of the room, as well as how light it looks and feels.
Check Your Furniture
You have to remember that when someone is coming to view your home for the first time, they are seeing it with a whole new pair of eyes. So you need to do a similar thing as you look around your home. You might be fine with an old sofa that was passed down to you, but to a potential buyer, it could look tatty and make the room look smaller. So, in a similar vein to de-cluttering with your possessions, think about clearing some of your furniture if needed. They could go to a friend’s place or simply into storage. Either way, you want to create the look of space in the home, and sometimes moving out some furniture can be the best way to do just that.
One of the final points to note is that you should have a thorough clean of the home. It can make a real difference when someone walks in and can’t see thick dust on the window sills, for example. You want to show that the home has been cared for and that it is going to be a good place for them to live.
We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with Spring & Summer, Allstate Insurance and CJ Bathrooms. For related features, please pay a visit to our interiors page.
