If you are thinking about putting your property on the market sometime soon, knowing how to put it in a strong position for selling is a must.
The Property Market in 2023
Rightmove’s House Price reported that January 2023 saw the biggest new-year bounce in the property market for three years. This signals positive things to come for prospective house sellers.
In the words of Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Science, “At the beginning of the year, buyer demand is up by 4% compared with the same period in the last ‘normal’ pre-pandemic market of 2019. The bounce-back in activity this January was bigger than usual this year, following an extended year-end lull.”
Ways to up the value without breaking the bank
If you want to up your property’s value but don’t have too much cash to splash; don’t worry. There are affordable ways you can do this. Here are a few ideas.
- Boost curb appeal
First impressions do matter, especially when it comes to houses. The outside area with the “for sale” sign may be what influences someone to come for a house viewing in the first place. So, have a close look and decide what you need to do to boost that curb appeal; don’t be afraid to consult a local landscaper for inspiration and perhaps a small garden tidy-up!
Replacing old fencing with something fresh can go a long way too, changing the whole way your garden is framed.
Could you repaint your front door (or replace it with a more sophisticated alternative?) If you have a garage, redesigning that and fitting a secure, modern-looking roller door is a great way to add value too.
- Declutter
This one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people show people around their home without tidying up first. A cluttered house changes their perspective of it completely.
Even if they do make an offer, a messy, unhygienic environment is an easy excuse for them to haggle the price down, so avoid that trap at all costs!
- Give the walls a fresh lick of paint
If you haven’t refreshed walls in a while, now is your chance to get painting. Following certain home improvement trends can help you do this to your advantage. For example, a recent trend round-up from Rated People shows that green kitchens (and green walls generally) are popular at the moment, as are pink bathrooms! Pair this with neutral décor and you could be on to a winner!
- Eliminate sources of bad odours
Smoking, pets and bins; these are some of the common offenders that can make your house whiffier than your prospective buyer might like! You may have acclimatised to these odours but your house viewer probably hasn’t.
Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate this. Carpets often cling to smells. Consider getting a professional carpet cleaner in or replacing them with new carpets, laminate or even wood.
Examine air vents. Not cleaned them in a while? They’ll work better after they’ve been given some TLC.
Half an hour before the viewing and need a quick fix? Fill small containers with baking soda, coffee grounds or white vinegar and ensconce them in nooks and crannies around the house. They can help neutralise the smells.
And if it’s a smelly sink you’re contending with, you can pour apple cider vinegar down it to banish that pesky drain smell fast!
These are just a few of the many quick ways you can bolster your home’s value to make it fly high in the property market. By fixing the key issues, you’ll be in a great position to sell your house.
