Why wouldn’t you want to sell your home for more?
Use these canny budget tips and tricks to add buyer appeal and potentially thousands on to the sale price of your home.
1. Furnish
For house sales, a smartly furnished home will fetch much more than an empty shell, even if the next owners intend to throw everything out anyway! Replace tired furniture – on the cheap or even free – via classified sites like Preloved UK, Gumtree, or Facebook local seller groups. People who are replacing their sofa offer it for a bargain so that they don’t have to pay for its removal. Your highest cost will likely be the van hire.
2. Choose your paint colours wisely
We’ve all known we should use a neutral palette, but what does that mean? Off-white and magnolia were once popular, but may actually be a turnoff these days. Try a fashionable shade of grey or even a chilled-out blue and watch the boost in results!
3. Clean the street
Litter could wipe up to 12% off your property values, according to this article in the Mirror. It might feel like an imposition, having to clean up other people’s junk, but just think of the extra 12%!
4. Upcycle
Replace old taps, door knobs and other small accessories for a quick update. Chalk paint or self-adhesive vinyls could cover battered or outdated cupboard door with a faux finish. The point is that everything should look fresh and in top condition, even down to your light switches.
5. Bathroom blitz
If you can’t afford a brand new bathroom , at least make sure it looks clean. Brown water stains and black mould are your worst enemy. Reseal the sink and shower tray, and scrub the grout with thick bleach (but make sure there is good ventilation and don’t mix with other cleaning products). A bottle of basic bleach can cost less than a pound, and an old toothbrush makes an ideal scrubber for those finicky little spaces.
6. Sort out your front door
Make sure there’s no grime or flaky paint. This is your buyer’s first step to buying your house, and first impressions last. Think about new numbers and letterbox flap while you’re at it, and fix that dodgy step.
7. Let there be light
Make sure the light fixtures are dust-free, modern (or at least look vintage on purpose) and warm up the house. Simple lampshades can cost very little and make an instant impact on the room without much effort.
8. Add some quirk, but not too much
“Neutral palette” does not equal “dull”. If you have some unusual accessories that tell a story or add a focal point to a room, feel free to leave one or two out. Declutter the rest by putting them away in cupboards. Leave a family photo or two around, it will help the new buyers interpret the room and insert themselves into the house. A completely impersonal pad is not as easy to “read”. But don’t go overboard!
9. Think about your buyer’s age bracket
Young family, older couple, or first home buyers will decorate to their standards, not yours. You might not need to make everything completely hipster and trendy, or traditional and staid.
10. Don’t forget the yard
A straggly, patchy lawn in an unkempt garden can be a real turn off, especially around the front door. Think about spending a weekend returfing. A roll of turf can cost from just a few pounds per square metre from local suppliers. If you have paving slabs or decking, jet wash away winter mould stains, and replace any cracked pots. Finally, give everything a good weed!
Thinking of selling your home?
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