For anyone whose property is either currently on the market or for anyone considering selling their home in the near future, now could be a great time to get your home ready and looking its best. We have set out below some tips which we hope will be of use:
1. First impressions count
Remember to focus on the outside of your property as well as the inside. With many more people out and about on their daily exercise, it is important to make your home look presentable on the outside, particularly if you already have a ‘for sale’ sign up. Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can really make a property stand out. Cleaning your windows and freshening up pvc/wooden surrounds can also really make a difference.
2. Neutralise
Bold patterns and brightly coloured feature walls can look great and be a real expression of personality but they may not be to everyone’s taste and some buyers can struggle to see beyond that. Neutralising colour in a room can make it look much brighter and often much bigger too and can be an inexpensive way to freshen up your home for sale.
3. De-clutter
A cluttered home can make it appear much smaller and less visually pleasing to buyers. Now could be the perfect opportunity to de-clutter and evaluate whether you are making the best of the space in your home. Too much furniture or oversized furniture can also make a room appear smaller so it is important to help potential buyers to see how best to utilise space.
4. Odd jobs
Carry out those odd jobs you’ve been meaning to do. With more time at home, now is a great opportunity to fix anything that may be broken to ensure your home is in a suitable condition for sale.
5. Eradicate/neutralise smells
Whether it be pet smells, damp or stale smoke, smells are all part of the overall first impression when viewing a property and some can be off-putting. If the cause of the smell can be easily fixed, now could be the time to deal with this. Some smells, particularly pet smells, aren’t always as easy to control and you may wish to consider scented candles, wax burners or diffusers to help neutralise the smells in your home. As cliché as it may sound, fresh flowers or the smell of freshly baked bread can also create a really inviting first impression.
6. Instruct a conveyancer
It’s never too early to speak to a conveyancer about your potential sale or purchase. There are searches, draft contracts and other tasks that can all be prepared in advance, enabling you to move fast when the time is right. Claire Wicks and the rest of our property team would be delighted to help.
