The selling price of a home is largely dependent on the location and the supply of similar homes in the neighbourhood. These are factors that you cannot do anything about. But you can ensure that your house makes a good first impression during a viewing by interested parties.
The garden
That impression – positive or negative – is already formed before potential buyers take a step beyond the threshold. A beautiful garden is an important selling point. Clean up litter, cut the hedge, straighten untidy tiles and remove weeds. Dress up the garden and terrace as an extra living space. Pot plants, beautiful garden furniture and some attractive accessories are the little things that make a difference.
The outside
What does the facade look like? You can remove deposits on the walls with a high-pressure cleaner. That is also the most efficient tool for getting terrace tiles and the pavement of the driveway spic & span.
Another defining element is the state of the doors and window frames. Peeling paint is an absolute let-down With a fresh coat of paint, on the other hand, you can give them a new look during the weekend.
Request a second opinion
Large investments such as a new bathroom or kitchen, or a dormer window, increase the value of a house, but rarely pay for themselves in a higher selling price. It is often the small, less expensive improvements that make the difference.
What can you think of? First ask friends or acquaintances. Invite them to view your house as if they were buyers. They will see things that you do not notice yourself.
Light and airy
Make sure that the daylight generously enters the home. Wash the windows, open all curtains on the viewing days and move furniture and plants that block out the daylight. Go one step further and remove old wallpaper and paint the walls white. This not only brings more light into the home, but is also neutral. Nobody is annoyed by white walls, which can be the case with pronounced wallpaper designs or color combinations. And remove as many loose items, excessive furniture etc. as possible. Buyers mainly want to see space and imagine how their own things will look here.
A checklist of small jobs
• Do something about nasty odours. Sewer air is of course completely out of the question, but curtains that smell of cigarette smoke, dog smells or the smell of cleaning products are also a letdown.
• Repair loose skirting boards.
• Ensure that all doors close and open properly.
• Replace broken lamps.
• Repair leaking faucets.
• Replace broken tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Remove all traces of past leaks. Leaks are perhaps the biggest fear of home buyers, and the assurance that the problem has been solved is probably not enough.
