Spruce Sensation: How to make your property more attractive to buyers for under £500
A few quick and simple improvements to a property can do wonders in making it more appealing to prospective buyers and achieving the best possible price when you come to sell.
Drawing on more than 30 years’ experience of connecting people with property, local property specialist Leaders offers some practical tips to sellers.
Kevin Shaw, national sales director at Leaders, says: “At Leaders, we encourage our sellers to enhance their properties wherever possible to help them attract the best choice of buyers and achieve a quick sale at the best possible price. By following the simple steps below you can make your property significantly more attractive to buyers, all for less than £500.”
Pick up a paintbrush
Perhaps the simplest job – but still one of the most effective – is to provide a fresh lick of paint, either in certain rooms or throughout the property if needed. This is relatively cheap if you can do it yourself but guarantees a clean, fresh impression and can make a property more desirable to prospective buyers. Aim for neutral colours to appeal to most tastes.
Finish those DIY jobs
Buyers are put off by properties that they perceive need work doing. Make sure any of those maintenance jobs you’ve been putting off have been done before people come to view – fix that fence, fill that crack in the wall, put that door handle back on. A property that appears neglected is a major turn off for buyers.
Revamp the bathroom and kitchen
You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a home you’re leaving but there are small steps you can take to revamp your kitchen and bathroom to bring it up to buyers’ expectations. Scraping out and renewing the grouting between tiles plus re-sealing around baths and sinks can give your kitchen and bathroom a new lease of life and create a cleaner, crisper finish.
Clean your home throughout, from carpets and skirting boards to windows and kitchen units
Have a good clean
Clean your home throughout, from carpets and skirting boards to windows and kitchen units. Make sure it smells as clean as it looks. If the carpets are badly worn or stained, it’s worth investing in new carpet rather than risk deterring buyers.
Presentation
There’s only so much you can remove from view when you still live there: you still need clothes, appliances, towels and furniture! It is fine for your home to look lived in as long as it’s tidy! Make that bed, hang the towels up, put that paperwork in a drawer.
Do a test viewing
Ask a friend, preferably a tidy one, to walk around your home and tell you what leaps out at them as untidy or off-putting. It’s difficult to be objective about your own home and a fresh pair of eyes can be invaluable.
Look at the outside
Never underestimate the power of first impressions. Taking the time to repaint the front door, tidy up the front garden, clean the driveway or hang a basket of flowers can be all it takes to get that all-important kerb appeal.
Getting your property as presentable as you can for viewing always pays dividends. Our experienced staff will be happy to help, with advice tailored specifically to your home and budget. For more information or to contact your local Leaders branch please visit leaders.co.uk.
