“Home is where the heart is.” – Anonymous.
The popular English saying resonates an undeniable truth. You can only call a place home if you are happy to stay in it. However, sometimes your heart wanders elsewhere, and you are forced to follow. In such cases, you have to put your former home up for sale.
The focus then, shifts in getting as much value from that property as possible regardless of your background as an individual or a real estate agent. So, how do you increase the value of your property? Let’s have a look.
I’m Maintenance, but I’m Worth It
The foremost thing you should do after making the decision to sell your home is to complete all the maintenance and repair tasks. Start by checking for problems in the structural integrity of your home.
Many problems are directly visible, such as leakages, cracks in walls, dampening, insect infestations, rotten wood, missing tiles or bricks, etc. Some are more inherent, such as problems in the beams or columns which may not be visible to the naked eye. In such cases, your best bet would be to contact a structural engineer or a professional surveyor.
Then you can move on to the utilities, such as the electric, heating, gas systems and plumbing. Rewiring the electrics and fixing leakages or replacing faulty instruments should be at the top of your priority list. Again, if you can not perform maintenance on these systems yourself, it is a better idea to call in professionals.
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Clutter makes for a hideous partner. Before you put your property on the market, make sure that all your possessions are stowed away someplace safe. If you are not offering the house as a furnished property, then have your furniture removed as well.
The reason is simple. Clutter reduces the impact as opposed to a clean, empty property devoid of stuff thrown around in a haphazard manner. Even if you think it gives your house a homely atmosphere, the buyer might not be as open-minded to your approach as you’d think. Empty rooms look spacious, and space is a prime commodity in your property.
Next up, make sure that your house is clean, inside as well as outside. Stains on walls and carpets, limescale deposits in bathrooms, dust build-up and grunge or mud might give your home an antique look. But your customers won’t be interested in your house as a part of their collection. They need to stay there, so make efforts to clean up.
First Impressions are Last Impressions
There’s value in packaging. You are more likely to buy an item wrapped in attractive, bright and colorful packaging rather than an exposed item kept among many other items on a shelf. The same principle applies to your home. You need to make the house as attractive as possible from the exterior as well as the interior to get the most out of the first impressions.
If your house has a garden, make sure it is well designed with fences in the right places and bushes trimmed properly. Mow the lawn if you have any, and make away with dead plants, twigs, and leaves. Remove any weeds and overgrown plants and have the garden checked for pests or insects.
Next, repaint your entire property. Chipped or faded paint is ugly to look at. A nice coat of fresh paint will instill vigor in your home. It’s easy to miss little details, but having spotless, shiny accessories such as faucets, handles, and wall sockets add to the wow factor. So, consider replacing the aging accessories with new, modern ones.
An important, but easily forgotten thing to note is the smell in your property. If your house has unseemly odors, any potential buyers will be turned off instantly. So, having the property deodorized and aerated with aromatic fragrance is essential.
Selling a property might seem like a costly affair. But these activities are essential to get the most value from your properties while negating any devaluing factors such as area codes. It is the reason why buying a property is considered as an ‘investment’.
