What do you need to do to your property before putting it on the market?

Making the decision to move house is tough and certainly isn't to be taken lightly. Usually, we get the desire to sell our homes because the property doesn't fit our family's needs anymore or we have simply fallen out of love with it. 

Many homeowners feel they need to refurbish their property before coming onto the market. Perhaps they think no one will want to buy their property because they've no positive feelings about it anymore; all they can see are problems.

This view often causes homeowners to delay marketing their property for sale. But you could miss the perfect buyer while procrastinating over whether you need to fit a new bathroom or fully re-decorate. Or the market conditions could change, which might affect the property's value. As with many big decisions, there is never a 'perfect' time, which usually means that there is no time like the present. 

Let's say you decide to fit a new kitchen before selling your property; how do you know that the kitchen you choose will be suitable for the buyer of your property? Particularly when you don't even know who that buyer is yet! This is one of the biggest concerns for property developers and is often the reason that decisions about the fixtures and fittings are left until a buyer is found so that they can choose their own. 

A considerable refurbishment is unnecessary for a property you plan to sell; it's a waste of time and a waste of money. You would be far better marketing the home without significant work being done and letting the buyer put their own stamp on it. 

Although, there are certainly some small tips that could help you to get your home ready for market. Things that shouldn't take too long, so that you are not delaying the sale of your home, and shouldn't cost too much money either, and could have a huge impact!

General spruce up: Touching up scuffed paintwork, tightening loose door handles, and replacing lightbulbs are all tasks often overlooked daily. But, if you deal with these minor things before marketing your home, your viewers will not be left with the sense that there are lots of DIY tasks for them to deal with when they move in. 

Gardening: Cutting back and tidying up the garden (of course, this will very much depend on the time of year) pleasantly presents the outside and makes the space seem larger! Also, the viewers will not be worried about the jungle they'll have to tackle if they buy your home.

Tidying and decluttering: An oldie but a goodie. Tidying up those little odds and ends that we get used to having lying around and decluttering items that we simply don't need anymore will give the impression of a well-maintained and presented home.

Set the scene: Before the photo shoot of the property, you might like to consider staging some areas with fresh flowers or coffee pots and mugs on the coffee table. Staging sets the scene and allows the viewers to imagine life in the property and create interest in marketing rather than simple images of each room. 

Don't put off your move because you don't like the kitchen. This is precisely why you want to move in the first place. What is the point in spending time, money, and energy and having the upheaval of fitting a new kitchen into a home you no longer love? 

Getting your property sale ready is quick and shouldn't cost the earth. No major refurbishment is needed, simply a general tidy-up, and you should be good to go. 

Try speaking to one of our property experts for tips and advice about what could help you to sell your property, and ask how this may affect the property valuation. You might be surprised - perhaps a £20k kitchen will not increase the value of your property by £20k anyway, and you would just be wasting your money. 

If you want tips and advice about getting your home ready for sale, get in touch today. Spring is just around the corner and a fantastic time to sell.