So you’ve put your home on the market, or you have at least started thinking about it. Now what?
It’s time to make various last minute home improvements in order to maximise value and push up or justify that all important asking price!
Competition is fierce and the property market is turbulent at best. For this reason, it’s never been more important to ensure your home is going to be desirable to potential buyers.
We’ve come up with a few last minute home improvement ideas to get you started. Simply read on to find out more and let the hard work begin.
First Impressions
First impressions count, so ensure the exterior of your property is up to scratch. This means cleaning your windows and front door, clearing your gutters and power washing the outside of your property, among other things.
If you have a driveway, keep it well maintained by trimming bushes and trees, de-weeding and getting rid of any clutter. No potential buyer wants to see a discarded children’s toy or litter strewn across the drive.
If you don’t have one already, purchase a welcoming door mat too. Also consider brightening things up with flowers or plants, which can add some much needed vibrancy to an otherwise dull driveway or home entrance point.
Garden Maintenance
Front, side or rear gardens, no matter where they are, you will need to ensure that they are well maintained. This means tending to your lawn, getting rid of weeds, planting blooming flowers where possible and other maintenance activities.
Also take the time to reposition your garden furniture, tidy up any stray gardening tools and wash your patios and decking if needed. If your fencing is looking a little unloved, keep in mind that a fresh lick of paint may give it a new lease of life.
General DIY
Do you have any general DIY tasks to tend to before welcoming all important potential buyers? Perhaps a broken cupboard door that you just haven’t managed to fix yet? Maybe a squeaky floorboard in need of some TLC or your bathroom needs retiling? Or even a leaky roof and damp ceiling?
Whatever the job, get to it before your first potential buyers arrive!
Cleaning
This is an obvious one – don those rubber gloves or even consider hiring a professional cleaner to do the dirty work for you. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before and pay particular attention to key areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, where good hygiene is essential.
Focus on walls, ceilings, floors, fixtures and fittings as well as furniture. Don’t forget to dust away any cob webs!
Declutter & Depersonalise
Declutter and depersonalise your home. Put general clutter in out of home storage; keep your knick knacks to a minimum and get rid of your family portraits.
It’s important to strip the property back and not detract from the key features. As much as you may love them, potential buyers will not be interested in the various ornaments and family heirlooms that grace your mantelpiece, shelves or window sills.
Neutral Decoration
If your property has been decorated to your tastes as opposed to remaining relatively neutral, you should definitely consider picking up a paint brush and redecorating.
Loud, patterned wallpapers are a big no-no, so strip the walls and keep it simple with light, unobjectionable paint colours. A blank canvas is best and will more easily allow potential buyers to envisage the property decorated to their tastes.
Adequate Lighting
Ensure your home is adequately lit, be it via natural light and artificial light. Draw back those curtains, maximise the levels of natural light and ensure all rooms are well lit.
Check for blown lightbulbs and if needed, reposition lamps in dark corners. A well lit room can help to ensure that the size is reflected, whereas a dark room can appear smaller than it actually is and could be detrimental to your sale.
We hope we’ve given you some ideas for home to complete those last minute home improvements. Best of luck with the sale of your home, fingers crossed that you achieve the price that you’re hoping for.