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Selling Your Home
Your starting point is to understand how much your property is worth and just as important is finding out the maximum potential value of your property. It is a waste of time, money and effort spending £20,000 on improving a property if it will only add £10,000 to the sale price. Get a copy of your local paper, go to the property section and look at what similar properties to yours are being sold for. Arrange for several estate agents to visit you and find out if they have sold similar properties in your area and how much they were sold for.
The best time for selling a property is usually spring and autumn; the housing market can slow down during summer and the winter in the run up to Christmas and New Year. If you are trying to sell a property at the right time of year and the market is buoyant, it's much more likely to attract buyers and more importantly the price you are looking for.
Keeping up appearances
==>Do any small DIY jobs - touch up woodwork and fix dripping taps.
==>First impressions count, and usually the buyer will have an impression of the house before they have even looked inside. Keep on top of the garden, sweep the paths and make sure any fences are painted.
==>Check your roof and guttering to make sure they are not leaking. Replace broken tiles and repair the lead flashing. It's worth checking the drains as well. It is always best to keep a drain clear before it blocks.
==>Keep the property looking good so a lick of paint can go a long way to stop the appearance from deteriorating. Be careful though, a surveyor will be able to spot if your attempts at maintenance are simply quick fixes - ongoing maintenance is much better.
==>Keep the lawns cut. Perhaps buy a lawn feeding kit to refresh the colour and keep it looking healthy.
==>If the kitchen looks tired, you might need to invest in replacement units or paint the doors. This will be much cheaper than buying a brand new kitchen. If the units are in reasonable condition but just look dated, replace the door handles. Another option is to replace the worktops on to your existing units.
Desirable look
==>Room colours - paint the walls a pale, plain colour.It is important to create the impression of light and space in the room. A buyer needs to be able to visualize their possessions in the room. Most buyers prefer natural, earthy colours as opposed to bright, bold shades.
==>You can balance light wall colourings with strong colours for soft furnishings such as cushions, curtains and accessories.
==>It maybe hard, but you need to remove personal items, like family photographs and children's drawings. You need to make sure that buyers focus on the property and not where you were on holiday. Tidy up each room, remove clutter, this will allow the buyer to imagine their furniture in the room.
==>Think about the garden. Plant pots can bring colour to your garden. If you don't know how to do your own, visit a local garden centre and buy some ready made ones.
==>Add a vase of flowers to certain rooms as it will freshen the room and provide a welcoming smell.
==>Create a purpose for each of your rooms. Your home will be more appealing if the rooms have a specific purpose.
==>Tidy up the bathroom. Put a green plant on the window sill and as with the kitchen replace the taps. Get a new shower curtain and light pull. You don't have to spend a lot to revitalise the room.
==>If you don't have a white bathroom suite then you may have to think about investing in one. Coloured bathroom suites are out and old-fashioned. It will add value to your property.
Useful Tips
==>Don't cook food such as fish or curry before a viewing as the smell will linger.
==>Don't go over the top with air fresheners either
==>Make sure any pets you have do not interfere with potential buyers. Ask friends or family to look after any pets during viewings or secure them so that you don't have to keep an eye on them.
Enjoy selling your home.