Putting your house on the market can be a daunting experience, especially if this is your first time involved in the property market.
However, before putting a for sale sign outside your home, there are a few things that you can do to increase the value of your property.
You don’t have to spend all of your hard-earned money on major renovations to encourage potential buyers to make an offer, as there are several inexpensive things you can do that will make a big difference.
Improve Your Kitchen
In a lot of homes, the kitchen is the heart. Most buyers will want to give the kitchen a thorough inspection, so it’s of vital importance that it has been cleaned from top to bottom before welcoming a potential buyer into your home.
Although updating an outdated kitchen is a good idea, investing in brand new cabinets and kitchen appliances might not be an option. Sellers who are not in a healthy financial position will want to avoid spending large sums of money on kitchen equipment and furniture. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to make your old cabinets look great.
Painting each cabinet in your kitchen will make the area seem clean and fresh. Consider painting all the cabinets the same neutral colour. These colours will help you hide any scratches on your cabinets.
Make sure that all of the appliances in your kitchen are spotless. If any of the appliances in your kitchen no longer work, don’t leave them on the counter. Everything inside the kitchen should be in working order.
Make a Cleaning Check-list
Don’t be surprised if the buyer will want to inspect each room in the house, including the attic.
Investing in a home is a big deal, so if you want a buyer to make a serious offer, it must be spotless. Although some buyers won’t worry about a house in desperate need of a deep clean, don’t expect them to make a good offer on your home. Buyers are often worried about purchasing a home that the previous owners were unable to maintain.
Before you begin cleaning, you will want cleaning products and tools on hand such as:
- Vacuum
- Window cleaner
- Rags
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- All-purpose cleaner
Now that you have your cleaning products and equipment, it’s time to make your home selling checklist. Here are a few things you should include in your checklist:
- Walls: If you notice dirt on the walls in your home, scrub them with warm water, a rag, and some dishwashing liquid.
- Make sure that each room is free of clutter
- Remove any excess furniture
- Make sure that the ceilings, walls, and floor in each room are clean
- Check to see that the sofa and any other furniture that is included in the sale of the house is clean.
- Clean out the fireplace: Put some wood beside the fireplace so that it is ready to use.
- Polish all the outlets throughout your home.
- Make sure that there is soap, toilet paper, etc. in each bathroom
Hire a Professional Cleaner
Homeowners often struggle to clean their homes properly, which is why so many of them opt to hire a professional cleaner to assist them with the task.
Before hiring a cleaner, consider finding out what services the agency specializes in. For example, if you are finding it hard to clean your sofa, check to see if there are cleaners in your area that provide an upholstery cleaning service, like sofa cleaning London.
Others specialize in carpet cleaning. Although you might think a standard household vacuum will allow you to clean your carpets properly, they sometimes struggle to remove dust and debris stuck deep in the carpet’s fibres. Some cleaners have access to heavy-duty vacuum cleaners. These vacuums are far more powerful than household vacuums. These vacuums are specifically designed to remove unwanted contaminants, dirt, and debris from carpets.
If you want to outsource your cleaning, don’t hesitate to ask the estate agent for help. Most estate agents with lots of experience will have hired several cleaning agencies in the past. They might be able to recommend a good cleaner in your area.
Create a Home Office
During the ongoing pandemic, more potential buyers than ever before are looking to invest in a home with a home office. Even with life going back to ‘normal’ in most countries, it seems like remote working is here to stay, which is why sellers should look into making a home office in their house before putting it on the market.
If there is a small bedroom, why not convert it into an office or a study. Even if there isn’t a spare room in your home, you can make an office elsewhere. Perhaps in the hallway, or even outside the home. Lots of folks have been converting their sheds into a home office.
Make sure there aren’t any Structural Problems
Buyers will be looking to invest in a home that is safe and secure. If the buyer notices minor structural issues, they might wonder what else is wrong with your home, so it’s important to fix any problems in your home before putting it up for sale.
Before you begin cleaning your house, painting the kitchen cabinets, or speaking to an estate agent, fixing structural issues should be your top priority.
Here is a few examples of the areas you should fix:
- Broken tiles on your roof
- Pest infestation: If there are signs of a rat infestation in your home, don’t expect the buyer to make a bid.
- Broken tiles on the floor
- Cracks in the foundations
- Rotten timber
- Leaky roof
- Broken window
Improve your Home’s Air Quality
It is important that you do whatever it takes to improve the quality of air in your home before buyers come to view your property.
Unhealthy contaminants can have a negative impact on a person’s overall health, especially if they suffer from allergies or asthma.
Clean your air-conditioning systems, and replace the old filters with brand new filters. Make sure that all the carpets throughout your home have been cleaned properly.
Don’t forget that there are other household appliances that use filters. Replace the filters in your vacuum cleaner and the vents in your kitchen.
An easy way to improve the overall air quality in your house is by introducing some indoor plants. These natural air filters will not only freshen the air in your home, but they will also look great too!
Paint the Front Door and make the Entrance Presentable
First impressions are of vital importance when it comes to selling a house.
When buyers arrive at your home, the first thing they will see is the entrance. Make sure that the entrance is clean, and consider planting some nice flowers and plants leading up to the front door.
If you have lived in the same property for several years, the front door is bound to have a few nicks on it. Plus, the original colour might have faded over time. Instead of replacing the front door with a new one, why not give it a lick of paint. A fresh coat of paint will improve your chances of making a good first impression.
