10 tips when selling your home
THE Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show is at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh on October 15 & 16.
It’s full of informative features, hundreds of plot and renovation opportunities, thousands of products and services from more than 120 exhibitors. There will also be experts to provide free guidance and support at 12 seminars, as well as Ask the Architects and Ask the Experts advice areas and The Planning Clinic. Here are 10 tips from the show’s organisers on ways to improve your home or prepare it for the market.
1 UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN The kitchen can be given an effective makeover for only a modest outlay. Consider adding new doors, handles and worktops or spray paint your existing cupboard doors to give them a fresh new look.
2 BATHROOM Replacing a coloured or tired-looking bathroom suite for a white one could cost as little as £500 and will completely transform this important room. If the walls look dingy, think about re-tiling. If your bathroom is too small, create a shower room by taking space from a larger bedroom.
3 THE SMALLEST ROOM Many homes have scope for a downstairs loo and this will invariably add more value than it costs. A loo needs only 1.3sq metres and today’s compact sanitary ware allows even the smallest space to be used effectively.
4 BE CLEVER WITH YOUR CONSERVATORY A conservatory often requires no planning permission and can be quick to build and will add space and value.
5 ASPIRING TO LOFTY HEIGHTS A loft conversion can add the most value to your home. The best way to add value is to use the conversion for further bedrooms and an en suite.
6 A WINDOW ON THE WORLD Refurbish or replace shabby windows if possible or at least wash them!
7 KERB APPEAL Tidying up the garden and driveway, re-pointing brickwork or stonework, painting doors and windows and other external joinery, replacing an old garage door and repairing cladding and render are all worthwhile investments.
8 MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURE Structural repairs and updating services such as heating and wiring should always be top priority. If a property is ready to move into, you’ll broaden its appeal to a larger number of buyers and increase its value and sale price.
9 NEVER FORGET THE BASICS Painting and decorating is an excellent, cost-effective way of giving your home a new lease of life but beware, individually decorated rooms can seriously affect the appeal and value of your home – so hold the purple paint.
10 DO YOUR HOMEWORK Get as much information as possible by reading specialist magazines and get along to The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston. For more information or tickets visit homebuildingshow.co.uk/Edinburgh or call 0844 8586754. Opening hours are Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am to 4.30pm.