In the current economic climate, selling a house can be very difficult. One reason for this is that buyers are becoming increasingly choosy.
Understandably, they want to purchase something that represents excellent value for their hard-earned money. However, this means they are more prone to notice details they don’t like or small issues they are unwilling to address financially.
For this reason, it is important to do as much as you can before you put your house on the market to ensure you get more out of the sale.
While your first thought might be that you’ll need to undertake a full renovation to improve your chances, the good news is that you don’t need to do this at all. Instead, all it takes is a series of thoughtful, cost-effective improvements. When done right, they can completely lift the presentation of your property, and help buyers see its value straight away.
Here are six things you can do to make it happen.
Why is it Important To Prepare Your House Properly Before Selling?
If you prepare your house properly for sale, it sets the tone for everything that follows.
Buyers, for instance, form opinions within moments of walking through the door. And those first impressions are hard to shift. That is why it is vital to present clean finishes, tidy spaces, and sparkling clean surfaces. If you do, you’ll create the feeling that the property has been cared for and is “move-in ready”.
To help them do this, many sellers use a moving house checklist to stay organised during the selling process. That same mindset also works well for the pre-sale preparation of your home.
Indeed, when each task is planned and completed properly, the house presents better in photos. You’ll also find that inspections run more smoothly, and your property’s valuation will increase.
6 Things To Do To Your House
So, what can you do to get more out of selling your house? Here are six steps you are recommended to take.
1. Refresh Walls and Ceilings
Whenever they inspect your home, walls and ceilings take up most of what buyers see. Therefore, it is in your interests to remove any marks, cracks, dents, and uneven finishes that might put them off. They can be a dealbreaker, even when the rest of the home is tidy. So, refreshing these surfaces is a wise move.
Fixing walls and ceilings before putting your property up for sale will create a smooth, consistent backdrop that helps rooms feel brighter and more spacious. Additionally, adding fresh plasterwork and a new lick of paint can improve their appearance and how light moves through the space.
This type of work isn’t too difficult because it does not involve changing the structure of your property.
2. Deal With The Visible Repairs Buyers Will Notice Immediately
You’ll be surprised by how much having to do small repairs puts buyers off from making an offer. Even a cracked corner, a patched hole that was never finished properly, or watermarks on a ceiling can make buyers question the condition of parts of the home they can’t see.
By addressing these before putting your house up for sale, you will go a long way towards removing such doubt during inspections. You can do many of these jobs around the house yourself. However, if you are not DIY-inclined or would rather produce something with a stronger “WOW” factor, don’t be afraid to bring in a specialist.
3. Neutralise the Interior to Appeal to More Buyers
When you are selling your home, you shouldn’t present it how you live in it. Instead, you should organise the interiors to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
A great way to do this is to create neutral interiors because doing this gives buyers space to imagine themselves living in the home. Loud colours, textured finishes, or inconsistent surfaces can distract from that experience. Therefore, using soft, neutral tones combined with smooth walls is a much better way to create a calm environment that piques the interest of a wider audience.
This is another relatively cost-effective home upgrade. It is also worthwhile doing because neutral finishes photograph better, and therefore create more standout online listings, brochures, and marketing campaigns.
4. Improve Kerb Appeal
Kerb appeal is vitally important for any house sale, because it is the first thing potential buyers see. The outside of your house sets expectations before anyone steps inside. Hence, if they see peeling finishes, cracked render, or tired exterior walls, it can even put buyers off from entering your home in the first place.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can improve your kerb appeal. Some of the areas to focus on include:
- Windows
- Roof
- Front garden
- Driveaway
- Fences and Walls
- Front Door
- Gutters
These home improvement projects can add real value to your property, assuming you do a good job in fixing them up in the first place. (Again, don’t be afraid to hire professionals to do this).
5. Remove Some of Your Furniture and Possessions
Unfortunately, some people can’t see past what they perceive as mess or clutter. For this reason, it is a good idea to remove some of your furniture and possessions.
The likes of chunky coffee tables, oversized bookcases, and large sofas can make rooms appear smaller, which can deter people with larger families. It is also a good idea to remove personal items, such as photo frames, knick-knacks, trinkets, and DVDs from your display surfaces. They can block sightlines, which many people will look negatively on.
6. Prepare Your Home for Photos, Viewings, and Valuations
Online listings often create the first point of contact between buyers and a property. Therefore, it is vital to have photos that highlight your finishes and surfaces in the best possible way.
Shadows, angles, and lighting all exaggerate imperfections. So, give your rooms every chance to be captured in the best possible light and calmest manner.