Adding value to your home when you sell

Adding value to your home when you sell

It’s a very competitive market out there! If you are considering selling your home you need to make sure your home competes favorably with other homes on the market; one way to do this is to “stage” your home. There are many ways to improve the first impression created by your home. Remember buyers are becoming more and more educated to make a thorough inspection of your home and legislation obliges you to declare many of the dark hidden secrets your home has.

You will not be sorry if you spruce up your home before selling, because you will have an advantage over sellers who have not taken time to do this. The trick is to consider what most buyers are hunting for and to give them exactly that. Of course you may want to go the route of appointing a decorator, but few of us will want to go to this expense.

So here are some easy ways to ad value:

1. Old kitchen cupboard doors can be replaced with new ones and using existing ‘carcasses’ at a fraction of the cost your kitchen could look brand new. Ensure grout in tiles is clean and presentable, this can be easily cleaned with detergents. In bathrooms, if you happen to have bright and unsightly sanitary-ware and tiles these are easily improved by re-enameling in more neutral colours. Do it yourself or call one of numerous companies who do this for you. It’s surprisingly inexpensive but make sure you shop around. These companies offer a guarantee as well. Spruce up your bathroom with a couple of cleverly placed accessories.
2. Dark rooms are extremely “off putting” to buyers; create a light, natural and airy impression. In older homes using creative lighting is a good bet. Advances in ‘sky-lights’ also allow you to harness natural sunlight via a ceiling installation.
3. A leading TV garden personality claims that a garden can add about 17% to the value of your home. Grass needs to be trimmed and neat. Cut down vegetation that blocks out light from your home. Pebbled areas can be very effective in creating a modern and low maintenance garden, particularly in water scarce times, a garden that needs minimal water would be an attraction for many buyers.
4. CLUTTER IS THE ENEMY, when it comes to selling, pack away as much family clutter as possible. Use stylish storage baskets etc. for items lying around.
5. Remember the first impression is vital. Act like a buyer and get close friends to give you a brutally honest opinion from your front gate to the back garden. You only have a few critical seconds to make that WOW impression on a buyer.
6. Security is a big consideration for many buyers, it is money well worth spent to have a security consultant highlight the more vulnerable aspects of your home and make the best and cost effective suggestions to upgrade your security. Perimeter control measures are particularly popular these days without being too unsightly.
7. Finally, you might love your dog but if the buyer gets a whiff of his presence it may cost you the sale. Also ensure unruly animals are put away before potential buyers view the home. This goes for smoking too, eliminate odors or you may eliminate a good buyer.

BUYERS DON’T LIKE:                                                                  

1. Poorly done DIY jobs.
2. Foul smells in your house.
3. General untidiness and CLUTTER.
4. Unruly dogs and kids.
5. Too much furniture.
6. Very bright and loud colours.
7. Dark, boxed-in spaces.
8. Very labour intensive gardens that require major watering.

BUYERS LIKE: 

1. Bright open spaces.
2. White, natural bathrooms.
3. Off-street parking.
4. Neat tidy gardens.
5. Wooden floors, natural and plain carpeting.
6. Neat and clean kitchens.
7. Plain tiling.
8. Secure environments.
9. Grey water systems and energy efficient environments.