Boost Your Home Sale - Why Handling Repairs Early Matters
Did you know that you could drastically reduce your home's value by making these simple mistakes? You might not have even realised that you are negatively affecting the value of your home. Find out more in this article.
As we all know, first impressions count. This is true for job interviews and first dates, and it is also true for property viewings. The significance of this initial impact cannot be overstated, especially when it comes to selling your home.
And it actually starts before the viewing even happens. Before the viewers cast their eyes over your garden or made their way to your front door. The first impression of your home is made online through the photography, videography and brochure copy created to showcase your property. These marketing materials are not just a formality, they are the gateway to attracting potential buyers and encouraging them to arrange a viewing.
If your home is not presented or staged in a way that shows your property in its best light, then you might not even get the opportunity to show a viewer the interior of your home, as they will simply discount it and move on. Staging involves arranging your home in a way that highlights its best features and makes it more appealing to potential buyers. This could include decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding decorative touches to create a welcoming atmosphere.
So, what can you do to ensure that your property gives potential buyers the best first impression?
Get those odd jobs done. We are all guilty of having a broken handle or something in our home and just living with it. For instance, a broken door handle, a loose doorknob, a leaky tap, or a cracked tile. But your viewers are not going to know that, and it isn't a great impression to make of the property if the viewer opens a door and the knob comes off in their hands.
Does the decoration need attention? As you have begun to fall out of love with your home and your thoughts move towards selling up and buying somewhere new, you might try to improve the property to rekindle your love for it. With this in mind, you likely have paint swatches or wallpaper samples taped to the walls as you were planning your new interior design. But this shows a buyer that your home is unloved and gives them work they will have to do to get rid of those swatches when they move in. It is far better to provide a blank canvas with a simple, refreshed interior than a tired interior with various shades in patches here and there.
Consider the approach to your property through your buyer's eyes. Walk down your street and really look at your property as if you are seeing it for the first time. Think about how it looks - is it clean and tidy, are the hedges and bushes cut back neatly, could the door do with a lick of paint, or is the doorbell broken, for example? You can then repeat this process in each room to ensure you are ready to attract a buyer.
When we see our homes every single day, we can become blind to the impression that it makes, simply because, to us, it is home, not a showhome. And it is because the old adage "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression" holds so much truth that it is vital that you deal with all of those odd jobs that you have been putting off in your home before you begin to market for sale.
This will prevent the first impression to a buyer that your home could be better or needs lots of work to bring it up to standard. A pristine and put-together home is going to attract buyers and give them the space to imagine themselves living there.
Take a good long look at your home and every room, and think, "What would I think if I was looking to buy this property?" Would you be impressed? Does the property make you feel welcome, is it homely and inviting, or does it look like there is going to be lots of work to do? If there are a few broken or worn things here and there and it could do with a lick of paint, the buyers will likely think that the property needs work. This could result in lower offers from buyers as they incorporate the cost of that work into their offers.
If you are unsure what work you should do to your home, if any, to guarantee that you will make a great first impression to a potential buyer, get in touch with our team of property experts for free, impartial advice.