Selling a property can be a long, drawn-out, and arduous process. Not only do you have to go through the initial effort of working out how much to market it for and how best to advertise it, but you then have to deal with potential property buyers coming into your home, nosing through all of your private places, and then quite possibly deciding that it’s not the right house for them at the end of it all.
To streamline this as much as possible, there’s only one thing you can do: you have to be proactive. Although there is never a way to guarantee a sale, there are plenty of tricks that you can try to make your property seem more attractive to potential property buyers. Here are just a few of them…
1. Improve its kerb appeal
If there is one reality that we can all agree upon, it’s that first appearances count, and this is as true when we’re talking of properties as it is when we’re talking of people. Any potential buyers approaching your home are going to start their visit with a glimpse of it from outside, which means that what their eye beholds needs to be good enough to make its mark and encourage a sale. An untidy or unloved garden, peeling paintwork, and dirty windows are not what you should be aiming for, so take the time to spruce up the exterior of your house or flat, and you’ll have made a strong first move to help sell your home.
2. Repaint
Although we all like our homes to reflect our individual personalities, this is something to be avoided at all costs when you’re looking to sell, so bright, bold colours are an absolute no-go. No matter how your house is currently decorated, it’s well worth investing in some neutral shades to tone down its uniqueness, so that what you’re left with is a perfect blank canvas. Not only will this have the effect of aesthetically enlarging your property, but it will also make it much easier for potential buyers to imagine what they would do with it if your house or flat were their own.
3. Complete any minor repairs and renovations
We understand that it might seem a little bit silly to improve your home when you’re about to leave it, but trust us when we say that any minor repairs or renovations will be investments that are well worth making. Regardless of the fact that you’ve happily lived in your home whilst being content to leave them on your to-do list, your potential buyers will see these as flaws – a reason either to discount your property, or problems to take advantage of so that they’re better able to barter down the price they offer. Take care of such issues yourself as economically as you can, however, and your home will not only be much more appealing to viewers but also worth more in their eyes.
4. De-personalise
As we mentioned above, buyers going into a property like to be able to imagine what it would look like if it were their own home, and this means that you want to aim for a style and aesthetic that’s as neutral as possible. Make the effort to minimise anything that adds an air of uniqueness to the property, whether it’s abstract art, family photographs, or zany styling. Keep it simple, straightforward, and as pared-back as you can, you could even consider introducing eco-friendly aspects to your home and you’ll increase its appeal in an instant.
5. Declutter
We also recommend you de-clutter before you think about selling. Not only does untidiness make a property less attractive from the offset, but it also makes it appear smaller and more cramped, which is hardly a good way to market it and portray it as an attractive prospect to buyers. Go to town with the spring cleaning, boxing up anything that isn’t essential and stowing it away out of sight. Not only will this give you a head start with your own packing, but it will also make your rooms seem instantly larger and airier. Cheap flat-pack shelves can be a savvy idea for getting everything off the floor, whilst under-bed storage boxes should be viewed as your new best friends.
6. Improve its olfactory appeal
Last but not least, make your home smell appealing. Although it’s unlikely to wreak to begin with, simple things like the scent of your pet dogs or the whiff of cigarette smoke can be enough to subconsciously turn people away from your property. This is something easily remedied. Invest in an automatic air freshener for every room, a scented candle or two, and some potpourri, and your home will soon delight the olfactory sensibilities of any who enter.
Follow these six simple top tips today and your property will be perfectly irresistible to potential buyers.
