Everyone wants their home to be worth as much as possible. If you are considering selling your property, you're most likely hoping that the valuations will come in high. There are many reasons why we hope for a high valuation:
If you sell for a high price and buy for a lower price, you will release some of the equity built up over the time you've owned the property.
If you're hoping to buy a more expensive property than you are selling, the higher the valuation is on your current property, the less cash you will have to add to your purchase to make up the difference.
Ego. It is human nature to want your home to have value. Our homes are our castles, and we are proud of them. Maybe this is so that you can boast to your friends or work colleagues or simply feel your home was a sound investment. A high valuation on your property is validation that the work you've done over the years, the mortgage payments you've made, or the investment you've made into upgrading parts of the property have not been in vain.
And did you know there are ways that you can, almost instantly and almost cost-free, make small changes that can significantly impact the value of your property and increase the ultimate sale price?
Cleanliness - It seems obvious, but if your property is not clean, it will be less appealing to a viewer. More than simply a run around with a hoover and bleach around the bathroom, a deep clean before your valuations could pay dividends. Paying particular attention to grout around tiles and silicone around the kitchen and bathrooms as these are quite difficult to clean properly but are very noticeable on a viewing appointment.
Dated Decor - If the decor within your home is dated or perhaps looking a bit worse for wear, this can significantly impact the attraction of your property. A viewer will be looking at your property through a very critical lens, so peeling wallpaper, faded walls, or scuffed and chipped woodwork will give the impression that your property has lots of work needed to get it up to standard. It could hugely improve the valuation of your property if you spend a few weekends freshening up the decor.
Overgrown Gardens - An overgrown garden not only looks messy, but it will also seem smaller! A viewer will see an unkempt garden as a huge challenge they must tackle, which might prevent them from making an offer. Square footage equals value, so a quick way to show the full extent of your outside space is to cut back and tidy up the bushes, trees and flower beds.
The intention here is to showcase your home in a way that is as much of a blank canvas as possible. Unless you're selling a property for refurbishment, and this is reflected in the marketing price, your property is more than likely an average, lived-in, family home. And it is expected that you, your family, and all your belongings will also be living in the property. You aren't expected to have a 'show-room standard' home, but clearing out as much as possible to show off the size and space you have properly could improve the price that someone will be willing to offer you.
In addition, the average family searching for a new home will not necessarily want to take on a large project. If your property gives the impression that there is much work to do, you could put potential buyers off.
By following these tips, you will present your home so that a buyer can clearly see the size and state of your property without giving them a mental to-do list of all the tasks they will have to tackle. If your home is ready for them to move into, and they can see themselves being happy and settling in quickly, then you are more likely to be able to negotiate a higher offer from them.
If you're considering moving in the next few months and would like a property valuation, contact our property experts today for a free, no-obligation valuation.
