The first few months of the year are the busiest for the UK property market. It’s no surprise: people can finally focus on listing their home after the hullabaloo of hosting family at Christmas.
But given so many people will be springing into action, how can you make sure your home stands out? We asked Fred Jones, expert and CEO of property e-retailer Upstix, for the quick changes you can make that’ll boost the chances of you shifting your home.
Here are his 9 top tips for creating a home that’s as sellable as possible – and one is as simple as playing with the thermostat…
Leave the heating on
Often when potential buyers come for viewing, homeowners will be out, whether that’s for work or because they’ve already moved to a new residence. But Jones points out that often means prospective buyers end up walking around a freezing cold house.
‘Damp and cold places are not pleasant for anyone,’ says Jones, ‘and they’re certainly not somewhere you’d want to live. Especially at this time of year, you need to leave the heating on if possible to create a literal ‘warming’ feeling when someone walks into space. Buyers are so much more likely to see a warm, cosy house as a potential home.’
Revamp your doors
Not many people think about internal doors when decorating, but Jones says they’re actually a real focal point for potential buyers.
‘The good news is they’re very easy to spruce up,’ Jones says. ‘Often, it’s as simple as a lick of paint to replace any scruffs, or a bit of oil to fix a squeaky hinge. It’s a 30-second job, but one that prevents your house from seeming old and rickety.’
‘Another easy tip is to replace any broken or stiff door handles. You can buy simple, attractive door and cupboard handles from most DIY shops and quickly change them yourself. It’s a great way to give your rooms a refresh on a budget.’
Declutter
It’s often not until you’re selling your house that you realise just how much stuff you have in there. And while you might not see your family photos as ‘clutter’, a buyer won’t be quite as sentimental.
‘People looking around a house don’t like to ‘imagine’ or ‘picture’ a clear room,’ Jones says. ‘You need to show them the space at its best possible, and that means being brutal.’
‘I’d recommend packing away as much as possible, from documents that might be laying about to your holiday fridge magnets. One thing lots of people forget is washing, but it’s hugely distracting to a viewer if your intimates are drying on the radiator!
‘Pack as much away as possible, and let the buyer imagine how they can put their mark on a blank slate.’
But don’t remove too much
It’s understandable that if you’ve already moved out of your property (or if something has recently broken) you might have removed some essentials like your expensive fridge or microwave. But Jones says it’s important that viewers get the sense of how a functioning kitchen would look – even if you plan on taking the items with you!
‘There’s nothing more off putting to a potential buyer than walking into the kitchen – the hub of the home for most people – and seeing a massive gaping hole where an appliance was. Even if it wouldn’t be that expensive to replace, mentally, it makes the home seem less practical and inviting.’
‘Even if a certain appliance is missing or broken, you’ll likely save money (and time) replacing it, rather than a buyer trying to knock thousands off because they’re imagining the kitchen needing loads of work.’
Get a pet sitter
‘Lots of people think that when it comes to viewings, taking their pet for a walk or leaving it in the garden is job done,’ Jones says. ‘Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case.’
‘You can always smell when a pet lives in a home, but there are certain steps I’d advise taking to diminish this. At the least, ask someone to watch your pet on the day of the viewing, light scented candles and air out the house.
‘Better yet, you could get a loved one to pet-sit for a few days around the bulk of viewings, which dispels the stress and gives you plenty of time to give your place a once over.’
Furnish each room in the most logical way
‘A lot of people adapt their homes to better suit their needs,’ Jones says. ‘For example, people might have a bedroom downstairs for mobility reasons.’
‘Buyers aren’t always the most imaginative when it comes to spaces, and if you have a bedroom downstairs instead of, say, a living room, even if an estate agent says it will be easy to change, they often still leave with the negative view that the home doesn’t have a living room.’
‘Where possible, therefore, you’re usually best to quickly move the furniture around your house to display it in the most ‘normal’ way possible. That’s normally with all the upstairs rooms as bedrooms and essentials like a kitchen and living room downstairs. That way, the layout is going to appeal to as many people as possible.’
Look outside
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, making sure it’s well maintained should be a priority in the weeks you’re hosting viewings.
‘I’ve lost count of the amount of homes I’ve been to view and there’s been old furniture, DIY kits or even bags of cement laying around outside. Throw it all away! You’re 100% better with no garden furniture than with old, flimsy stuff lying around and cluttering the space up.’
‘A well-kept lawn is also essential. Nothing makes a home seem more unkempt and messy than grass that’s overgrown – it makes a house look abandoned. Even if you’re not living there, you need to be regularly visiting to cut the grass and keep things in order.’
Remove spray insulation
It’s estimated that around 250,000 homes in the UK have been ‘spray’ insulated: where the roof is insulated with a liquid foam that sets into a fixed layer. But despite its popularity, mortgage lenders are beginning to reject applications for mortgages on houses fit with spray insulation, because of concerns that moisture can get trapped and cause roof timbers to decay.
‘If you think your home could be fitted with spray insulation, don’t avoid the problem,’ Jones says. ‘When the buyer applies for a mortgage, it will fall through, and you’ll end up back at square one.’
‘In this case, you’re realistically going to need a professional to come in and remove the insulation. It can be a costly job – the average price to de-insulate a three-bedroom house is around £3,000 – but ultimately, it needs to be done if you want to sell up.
Paint your front door
It might seem like a cliche, but a smart, welcoming front door makes a home much more attractive to a buyer. ‘It’s so easy to give your front door a lick of paint,’ Jones says, ‘and it’s an easy way to add value to your home.’
‘The house will only make one first impression on viewers, and if that’s flaky paint, the whole place will seem ill-maintained and they’ll be straight on the lookout for more issues. Make sure the front door is presentable will kickstart your viewings in the best way possible.’
