Three essentials to fix before you sell
When it’s time to put your property up on the market there are naturally lots of questions and unknowns to deal with. If you’re selling an older property you want buyers to see themselves moving in and settling down – not making a list of all the things they need to fix before they can live there. Naturally you want to get the best possible price for your property – so it’s worth investing in it now in order to attract a higher value. Striking the balance however between what you spend and how that effects the price you sell for isn’t always so easy. Here we share three common essentials to fix before you sell – and explain why these things can make a significant difference when it comes to negotiating a sale.
Fix the first thing buyers see
We say this a lot on the blog – and well it’s worth repeating – first impressions really do count when it comes to selling a property. Buyers make an instantaneous and often subconscious assessment about the feel and look of the property even before they walk in. This naturally affects their ultimate decision on whether to consider it as an option in the search for their new home. Pay attention to the external appearance of your property. Are the windows clean and tidy? Is paint peeling or cracked? If there are plants and a garden space, how is it kept? Getting a new door and windows (or cleaning and revamping existing installations) may be necessary. Pop a few pots filled with lush greenery or colourful flowers near the door for a welcoming, homely vibe.
Clean up the walls and floors
Scuffed or dirty walls and floors are very noticeable to new visitors. Maybe you’ve got used to the marks or the peeling wallpaper – but try and take a look around with fresh eyes to identify flaws that are likely to put off potential buyers. The good news is that tired-looking walls and flooring are easily (and inexpensively) remedied – a lick of fresh paint does the trick on the walls, and a new carpet can work wonders where the previous one is worn and threadbare.
Deal with potential danger
During the time you’ve spent in your property (whether you’ve been there for three years or thirty), you’ve probably come to know all of its quirks and potential hazards. You avoid the wonky step on the patio and hop over the dodgy door partition that threatens to trip you up. When you come to sell it’s worth remembering that buyers won’t have this existing knowledge. They will likely view these ‘little things’ as big problems, especially if they have pets or children. Be sure to fix anything that could trip or injure a first-time visitor to your home. Safety issues are not appealing – you don’t want your property to be remembered as the ‘death trap’ after a potential buyer hurts themselves trying to navigate the stairs. This extends outside as well as in – think splintered decking, cracked paving flags, uneven flooring and nails or sharp objects protruding.
