How to improve the value of your property

Before you instruct an agent to appraise your house, you want to think about what you can do to achieve the best possible price.

There are many simple things you can do to help your property achieve its optimum value, below we have compiled a list to give you some ideas:

Kerb appeal

As the saying goes, “you only get one chance at a first impression”. The exterior of your property is the first thing people see so go and stand in front of your property and have a good look at what potential buyers are going to see. Keep the lawn tidy, clean the windows and keep the driveway weed-free. Make sure any external painting is tidy and not flaking and faded. External painting can add up to £5000 to the value of your property.

Decorate

We all love to think we have a beautiful house, but unfortunately we are not all the same and your taste may not be to others liking and could influence the offers you receive. As a general rule, fresh and clean neutrals appeal most.

Odd jobs

Make sure you get odd jobs done before you start viewings, don’t let your house look neglected and give buyers a reason to knock you down on price. Avoid DIY bodging as this will make buyers start to ask questions about other bodge-ups they can’t see.

De-clutter

Make sure your property is clean and tidy, some people can’t see the wood for the trees and buyers like to visualise how they would have the property - they can’t do this as easily if it is covered in clutter

The kitchen and bathroom

The kitchen is the showpiece of the home and you will have probably heard the term ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell houses’. Unless a buyer is specifically looking for a project house, they will often look for something which is ready to move into with minimal fuss and initial expense. A tired old fashioned kitchen will often lead to lower offers whereas a new kitchen can typically add 4.6% onto the value. If you decide to fit a new kitchen, make sure the price bracket of the kitchen matches the price bracket of your property - a cheap kitchen can drag down the value of an expensive property. A new bathroom can add around 2.88% onto the value of a property.

Interior tips

Clean, clean, clean - make sure you clean and hoover prior to viewings and use a spritz of air freshener - you want people to be looking at your house not your dirty dishes! Think about hanging some mirrors, they will visually double the space and make your home feel larger and get rid of clutter to avoid the property feeling cramped. If you have any threadbare carpets think about replacing them or if they are still in reasonable condition get them cleaned as it will freshen them up and pick up the pile. Buyers hate the thought of immediately needing to replace all the flooring so bare this in mind when you are preparing your house for sale.