Create that kerb appeal
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IF you are thinking of putting your home on the market over the coming months, spring-cleaning and decluttering can give it that allimportant “kerb appeal”.
Over the last few months, the housing market has started to slow down with property sales and house prices on the decline across the UK.
This could make selling your home a bit more difficult and you may need to put in a little bit of extra effort.
We asked three experts for their views on how you can make your property less cluttered, so it stands out from the crowd and is more appealing to potential buyers.
The professional organiser’s view
Kelly Hemingway, a professional organiser from Declutter With Kelly, says:“one of the best ways to help make your house more appealing to potential buyers is to declutter, and spring is the perfect time for this.
“If you have lots of items visible within your house this can make rooms look a lot smaller than they are. A large percentage of buyers are wanting to move home to gain more space, so you want to make your rooms look as big as you can, and this means fewer belongings.
“Buyers also like to picture how the space will work for their family, so by removing your personal belongings from display, this will make it so much easier for potential buyers to imagine how the room will look with their own belongings in there.
“As well as making your house more attractive to buyers, decluttering can also reduce the cost of moving as you will not need to pay to move items you don’t need.”
Kelly’s top tips:
Only keep items that you really love or that have a purpose in your life in the future.
Only items that belong in that room should be there. For example, an ironing board shouldn’t be visible within a bedroom, it should be put away tidily.
Declutter one room at a time. Take everything out of all the cupboards, wardrobes and drawers, and see what things you want to keep, what can be sold, and what could be given to charity or recycled. Sorting things now is easier than waiting until you move.
Remove items from sideboards, doors and windows. This will make the room look bigger and will also let more light into the room. Similarly, keeping floors clear of general clutter is vital.
Buyers will see the maximum floor space, right up to the walls and skirting boards, which means they will get the best impression of space.
The estate agent’s view
David Chadwick, owner of David Chadwick Estate Agent (davidchadwickstalbans.com), says: “Although location is all important when selling a house, owners can still make their property stand out by showing the house off in its best light.
“Presentation and upkeep are frequently the key – small details such as a smartly painted front door and a well-kept garden show potential buyers that your home has been cared for.
“Giving your home decor a refresh also makes sense. The old saying that a coat of paint makes a huge difference still rings true.
“The same can be said for buying new carpets and rugs, and even replacing old, tired furnishings – it can make a real difference in selling your home.
“Not only will it appeal to potential buyers, but it means that your house always looks its best and is lovely to live in, but it also has real ‘kerb appeal’.
“There are many things that owners can do to ensure their property is not only lovely to live in, but maintains its resale value.
“Using an experienced estate agent who knows the local area when selling your property is also vitally important. They can advise you not only on how to show your house off, so that when you come to sell your property you get the highest price possible, but they can also be your greatest ally during the house-moving process.”
David’s top tips:
First impressions are important. Many potential buyers will have already looked at your house through various online property portals, so making sure it is clean, tidy, and uncluttered is crucial to get people to pick up their phone and call the estate agent to make an appointment to view your home. An important part of this is to ensure the property pictures taken by the estate agent really show your home off to its best effect – so ask to see the photos before they are published online.
Scrub paving and paths. Paving, paths and even doorsteps can get grubby and slippery over time, particularly after the winter months. Consider using a pressure washer to clean and refresh any large areas of concrete and block paving – not only is it quicker, but it will return the surface to its original colour and remove unsightly moss.
Maximise the light – the feeling of light and space is very important. Obvious ways to do this are to ensure windows are clean and unobstructed, curtains or blinds are pulled back, and consider changing current house dressings to something lighter. Mirrors can be a cheap and effective way of enhancing light and space.
Space sells – the feeling of space and that the house is uncluttered really shows off a property. This isn’t necessarily about adding space, it’s more about making sure the space is shown to its maximum. Kitchen worktops and spaces over kitchen wall cupboards should be clear and free from general debris.
Small details show potential buyers that your home has been cared for Estate agent
David Chadwick