Small improvements can help sell your property

Renovating a home could help clinch a sale, but how do you decide what’s worth doing?

Regardless of the state of the housing market, a property’s first impression is crucial to attract serious buyers.

So, while making a home more appealing should be a good investment, it is difficult deciding what refurbishment to do. The right decision can reap rewards.

Stories abound of campaigns for poorly presented properties that limped along until a makeover revealed its potential.

Yet overcapitalising on property that isn’t worth a luxury facelift puts the investment at risk.

Top Tips

Seek advice from a local agent or valuer on likely buyer profiles and what outlay would easily be recouped.

Get someone to act as a fresh pair of eyes.

Home styling and staging services are available – real estate agents can probably recommend somebody.

Clean and declutter; repair minor defects such as holes in walls, leaky taps, wonky paving, cracked tiles, mouldy grouting.

Tidy the garden, clean paving with high-pressure hose, add plants and potted colour, spread fresh mulch.

Paint or wash house facade, front door and fence. Re-oil or repaint decks. Paint inside as necessary. Replace daggy light fittings. Kitchen: update cupboard doors and handles, splashback tiles, taps.

Bathroom: respray/regrout tiles, repair cracks and chips. Re-enamel a damaged or garish bath.