Make buyers feel at home
First impressions go a very long way, when it comes to selling a property, Lisa salmon discovers
A THIRD of prospective homebuyers take less than a minute to decide if they like a house after stepping through the door, new research by Taskrabbit (taskrabbit. co.uk) has found. So if you are looking to sell, making a good first impression is vital.
“When putting your house on the market, there are a few key dos and don’ts to make sure your home is as inviting as possible,” says Kate Watson-smyth, home sellers consultant for Taskrabbit.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of the property agents’ membership body Propertymark (propertymark.co. uk), adds: “People buy with their heart, so don’t underestimate the small things you can do to make a real difference in helping a buyer imagine themselves in their future home.” The Taskrabbit research found 56% of homebuyers say they’d walk away if they had a ‘bad feeling’ about a property, and 28% admit they’ve written off a property purely from viewing grubby exterior features, like an untidy driveway.
The good news? Making sure your house has what buyers want could be easier than you think. Here are some suggestions...
Washing windows
Potential buyers will pay attention to windows, as they’ll immediately give a sense of how well-maintained the rest of the house is, say the Propertymark pros. Give them a thorough wash, and give wooden windows a fresh lick of paint.
The kitchen is key
The state of a kitchen can make or break a sale. Taskrabbit found modern appliances or finishes were an important feature for 39% of the homebuyers surveyed, with the same percentage wanting an open-plan kitchen, and 33% being put off by a dirty kitchen.
Preen the garden
Taskrabbit found 48% of homebuyers are looking for a scenic garden, with 31% saying bi-folding or sliding doors to the outdoor space was a plus point, and 28% saying an overgrown garden was a turn-off.
Let there be light
Propertymark says a dark room is an immediate turn-off, and Taskrabbit found bright and airy rooms were the second most important feature for homebuyers, with 63% saying it was key, and 34% wanting neutral walls, which can help a room seem lighter.
Display fresh flowers
Fresh flowers on display is a welcoming touch that will make your home appear well-kept. Flowers can give rooms a lift and create a clean fragrance to greet a buyer.
Avoid over-personalisation
Nobody has identical taste and buyers must be able to see themselves living in your space, so remove any decoration that shows too much personality.
Fix faulty DIY
First impressions can sway a buyers’ decision, so it’s essential to patch up any maintenance slips, such as holes in walls, broken doorknobs and cracked tiles. Taskrabbit found exposed wiring was a turn-off for 62% of viewers, while 50% weren’t happy about cracked plaster, and 36% said cracked floor tiles were a no-no.