Achieve That Asking Price! Cheap and Cheerful Ways to Boost The Value of Your Property Before Selling
When the time comes to say goodbye to your old home and move somewhere new, you of course want to get the best price possible for your existing property. It should reflect the amount of work and the upgrades you’ve put into it, giving you as much cash as possible to buy your next home with. Getting the best price for your home is actually easier than you might think, as a few very small changes can make a big difference when it comes to what people will pay. Here are a few points to consider before putting your property on the market.
Redecorate in Light Neutrals
This is a simple trick, it will cost you just a few hundred dollars but could add literally thousands to the value of the home. A light, neutral color scheme will create a blank canvas that people can easily picture themselves in, as well as making the most of the natural light so everywhere looks bigger and more spacious. Remove bold or fussy wallpaper and paint walls white, cream or very light gray. Repaint woodwork and ceilings in brilliant white. Rip up the existing carpets (especially if they are patterned or colorful which will put off most buyers enormously) and recarpet throughout in a plain, neutral color that goes with the walls. If you go with the same carpet throughout, this creates a nice ‘flow’ to the home and again makes it look bigger. It certainly doesn’t have to be the best kind of carpet there is, even a simple budget choice will look impressive if it’s professionally fitted. This article states how important it is to depersonalize your home when it comes to selling. The aim is to create a light, bright and airy blank canvas. This will make just about any home look stunning and will appeal to a wide range of buyers.
Dress It Like a Show Home
With plain, neutral and unfussy decor, buyers are able to picture themselves in the property. But a few finishing touches can help to bring that vision to life. You’re not just selling bricks and mortar when you sell a property. You are selling someone a lifestyle. Remove clutter and personal touches such as photographs and other trinkets. Use this as an excuse to start packing, get rid of everything you don’t need right now and start boxing it up. You could hire some self-storage and keep everything in there, so you’re not drowning in a sea of packed boxes. Instead, keep it simple with a rug, a clock, and a plant. Dress the table with linen and a dinner set, or a cafetiere and a vase of flowers. Show people the kind of life they’re able to live by buying the home.
Repair Anything That’s Broken
Even very small areas of disrepair will be picked up on by potential buyers. A cosmetic crack could be assumed to be a result of structural damage which could put them off, or result in them dropping their asking price. Small areas of damp caused by not opening windows regularly could be assumed to be the result of a leak or bigger problem. According to this article it could be best to call in the professionals, especially for larger jobs (or if your DIY skills aren’t the best!). Either way, tackle all of these kinds of things before showing your home if you want to get the best price possible
Get a Valuation
Once these changes are made, the next step would be to get a professional valuation- this site suggests a number of methods you can go about doing so. That way you know what a fair price for your home is, based on the condition, location, size, number of bedrooms and everything else. Chances are it will have changed significantly since you bought the home, even if it was just a few years ago so don’t skip this step. That way, you know it’s being put on the market for the best price possible, and you’re not selling yourself short.