As spring approaches and the weather gets warmer, many people look to sell their property and make a fresh start in a new home.
But what is the best strategy to give you the most chance of reaching your goal and what are the best tips to get your home at its optimum to enhance the chances of a sale?
1 - Identify the target market
Before you put your home on the market, it’s important to understand the type of person you’re looking to sell it to.
For example, if you’re selling a two-bedroom home close to a town or city, the chances are you’ll receive interest from professional couples. In that case, try to incorporate a small area that could be used as a study in the home to appeal to them.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to sell a four-bedroom family property, I would advise you to keep all the rooms as bedrooms, rather than convert one of the rooms in to a study. This way you don’t alienate larger families.
2 - Inspections and repairs
You don’t need an expensive new kitchen or bathroom to impress buyers, but you do need to make sure your home is in working order.
Roofing and tiling are often people’s main priorities when it comes to repairing their homes, and while it’s very important to make sure these are in tip-top shape, they often overshadow other problems.
It may also pay to give your house a lick of paint – a neutral colour to be precise. Don’t let your home be remembered as the one with a bright orange kitchen.
And don’t forget the little things. It’s amazing what impact new door handles, fresh skirting boards and a good polish can have to the appearance of your home.
3 - Redecorate
If your home has not been painted for a few years or is of a colour or design that may not appeal to some people, invest in some neutral coloured paint, white is usually best, and give your home a new lick of paint.
Get any dirty tiling re-grouted and polish surfaces and clean off any food and drink stains on any kitchen appliances and surfaces. It can make a huge difference in the eye of a potential purchaser.
4 – Get your paperwork organised
Paperwork can often hold up a property sale, so try and get ahead of the game by making sure yours is ready and up to date.
Check with your mortgage provider that you can transfer your mortgage deal to a new property or if you will incur any penalties for doing so.
Make sure you have any guarantees or receipts for major repairs and improvements to the house ready to pass on.
Arrange for a solicitor to start the conveyancing process and to give you details on the selling costs you will have and what paperwork you need to have ready, such as an electrical safety certificate.
5 – Use a good estate agent
A good estate agent will know the realistic price you can expect for your property. They understand the local market and will know what similar sized homes have sold for in the local area.
For an initial valuation, use three estate agents, but don’t necessarily choose the highest one as this may not offer the most realistic chance of a sale, and, research suggests that if a property is put on the market at too high a price, the eventual selling price can be lower than if it was put on the market at a more realistic selling price in the first place.
Some agents will try and make you only use them for an agreed period. If you do this negotiate the period to as low a one as possible and always negotiate hard on fees.
It is also best to let an estate agent take charge of viewings. They know how to sell a home and won’t be defensive if potential buyers ask difficult questions.
6 - Declutter
There’s no better time to remove that clutter than when moving home. Clutter will put off most potential buyers from going ahead with the sale, but don’t leave it to the last minute.
When you have got rid of or sold as much as possible, hide the rest, so put away coats and shoes, put kitchen and bathroom products away in cupboards
Take products off the shelves and make sure that all your clothes are all tidily packed away.
It’s also worth noting that buyers might not care for your personal taste in ornaments, so try and hide some personal belongings to make the home appear as neutral as possible.
7 - Make your first impression a lasting impression
A buyer will start judging your home the second they lay eyes on it, so don’t give them an excuse to stay in the car.
If you have a front garden, then make sure that it looks tidy, welcoming and clear of weeds. As spring is on the horizon, it may be a good idea to plant some seasonal flowers like tulips to emphasise your welcome.
The smell of freshly-baked bread helping to sell a home has been well documented, but again it’s important not to neglect the small things. A bedroom looks so much more appealing when the bed is made and cupboards overflowing with items suggest there’s a lack of storage space .