How to Improve Your House before You Sell

How to Improve Your House before You Sell

How can you maximize the value of your property when selling?

Maximizing the value of your property before you sell not only gives you the potential to sell your property more quickly but it also means more money for your next home. In this article, we look at the most cost-efficient ways to improve the value of your home prior to selling.

There are three main ways to go about adding value to your property before you sell.

Renovations

As a general rule of thumb, even the most cost-efficient home improvements will only net you around 80% of the cost of having them done. This may be an option if you’re having trouble selling or are looking for a fast sale but are not recommended for sellers wanting to add value to their homes.

New bedrooms – attics, extensions and basements can be turned into additional bedrooms and generally add the most value to a property.

Conservatories – Increasing the floor print of your property and giving more focus to any outdoor space you have can make it feel more spacious and attractive to potential buyers.

Kitchens – Kitchens, much like bathrooms, can be very tricky to get right as personal preference means many buyers may be turned off by a particular style of kitchen. However, of all the rooms in a house, the kitchen generally has the greatest impact on buyers so it may be worth looking at remodeling.

Repairs

In contrast to renovations, there are many minor repairs and low-cost fixes you can make that will have a significant impact on the final selling price of your property. We’ve listed the most important below.

The roof and guttering – Both of these should be clean and in good repair. Many homebuyers will judge the structural quality of the property from the state of the roof.

Interior walls – Repainting or wallpapering the interior walls automatically creates a feeling of cleanliness and newness that many buyers find attractive.

Floors (Carpet, vinyl, floorboards or tiles) – Particularly stained, dark or worn flooring can have a significant impact on the perceived value of your property. Only consider this if the flooring situation is very bad. Loose floorboards, on the other hand, should be a high priority as they suggest poor structural integrity.

Bathroom fittings (Sink, toilet and bath) – Resealing wobbly bathroom fittings makes them feel more solid.

Dripping taps and leaks – Dripping taps and leaks are a sure sign of a poorly maintained home to many buyers. They can often be repaired for pennies.

Scratches – Small surface scratches can be removed using Tibet almond stick.

Broken fixtures and fittings – Small DIY jobs, such as new light switches or door handles, can have a sizable impact on the value of your property.

Cleaning and de-cluttering

In order to make your property more attractive to buyers, you need to create an inviting atmosphere. The following will help to put a positive image in a buyer’s minds.

Eliminate smells – Where possible, keep pets out of the house when it is being viewed as they often create strong odors that new people entering your house will find very powerful. Similarly, do not smoke inside the property when it is on the market.

Use storage – Put some furniture into storage for the weeks or months that your property is on the market. This helps declutter and gives your property a more open, inviting feel.

Clean thoroughly – Homebuyers often scrutinize the smallest things very closely. Be sure to clean top to bottom as often as possible.

Exterior – Any outside areas should be clean and well tended as buyers often make a first judgment from the curb. This will also make sure your property looks good in estate agent windows.

Lighting – In general, homebuyers like bright, airy spaces. Open the curtains and keep the windows as clean as possible.

Gardens – If you have a garden, keep it well tended and if possible, make it appear as private as you can. Most people dislike being overlooked by neighbors in their own property.

In addition, a home inspection from a surveyor may cost money but could bring to light any significant issues particular to your property. In general, try to remove yourself from the emotions of your property and look at it as a commodity you are trying to sell.

By www.plentific.com