As an estate agents in Birmingham, we're well aware that selling a property can be a stressful and time-consuming process, especially if it isn’t presented in the best possible way. But doing so doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, below we have highlighted the many cost-effective ways to make your property more attractive to prospective buyers and inevitably sell for your asking price.
1. The Exterior
First impressions go a long way. Therefore, you should be aiming to wow any prospective buyer with the exterior of your property. This includes:
having a well-maintained garden or driveway
cleaning or fixing any guttering
arranging any repairs such as roofing
ensuring any paintwork looks fresh
What some people may overlook is that the exterior is also the final thing a buyer is going to see. As a result, it’s crucial to make certain it looks well kept in order to create a lasting, positive impression.
2. The Smells
As a prospective buyer enters your home, it shouldn’t just be their eyes that you’re aiming to please. Due to prolonged exposure, you can become ‘nose blind’ to certain odours in your home, such as:
sweaty odours from fabrics
unpleasant pet odours
pungent odours from food
the stale odour of cigarettes
For that reason, I recommend using automatic air fresheners that neutralise bad odours periodically and keep your home smelling fresh. It also helps to keep your room well ventilated by keeping windows and interior doors open to allow air to circulate throughout the home.
3. The Decor As a prospective buyer peruses through your home, there are many things that can greatly improve the viewing experience. This includes:
using light neutral colours that can make your home appear more spacious
replacing torn or stained carpets, cracked tiles, broken door handles etc.
ensuring any paintwork is touched up where necessary
Additionally, you should keep the amount of clutter to a bare minimum. Ornaments and other personal belongings may obscure the best features of your home as well as make your home appear confined and untidy.
4. The Kitchen
One of the focal points of the home is the kitchen and it serves many purposes; it’s where we cook, eat, entertain, and socialise. Therefore, it’s vital that a prospective buyer is able to envisage living in yours. To make your kitchen more desirable, you could:
revamp or replace the kitchen units
invest in new kitchen worktops
fit new floor tiles
improve the lighting
All of this can be achieved on a very modest budget and gives your kitchen that up to date, modern feeling that is highly sought after.
5. The Bathroom
After the kitchen, the bathroom is possibly the second busiest room in the home. While it serves an important role in the morning as everyone rushes to get ready for work or school, the bathroom also provides a place for someone to escape and relax in a soothing environment. In order to make your bathroom more appealing, you could:
repaint walls with a lighter colour to create the illusion of more space
renew tile grout
eliminate limescale and mouldy sealant on fittings
replace taps
replace the shower curtain with a glass screen
upgrade storage to reduce clutter
6. The Potential
Don’t rely on the prospective buyer to see the potential of your home. A viewing is your opportunity to demonstrate why your home should be bought instead of any of the other properties on the market, and you’re only going to get one chance to impress.
So if you have a spare room in your home that’s full of storage, consider how that space can be better utilised. Transform that room full of dust and cobwebs into a spare bedroom, an office, a nursery, a games room, the possibilities are endless, and it’s crucial that a prospective buyer thinks so too.
Is there anything you think we’ve missed? If so, please let us know in the comments section below.
And if you require an estate agents in Birmingham, contact Matthews Estate Agents using the contact details below or visit our website here to find out more about us and what we can offer you. Tel: 0121 358 0008 (Lines open Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:30) Email: admin@matthewsestateagents.com
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