So, you’re keen to sell your home but you’re just not getting any offers. What’s going on? How can you make your home more attractive to potential buyers?
What’s that smell?
Your home is your castle, but your pong is also your pong. If a buyer walks into a property and is hit with a bad smell, it’s likely they won’t be coming back. Whether you’ve just been cooking cabbage, or you’ve got a whiffy pet, always air your home before a viewing. Light some scented candles, bake some cookies and be sure to empty those bins before letting anyone in.
Mess and clutter? No thanks
Buyers walking into a cluttered home may find it difficult to see past the mess. Got a lovely fireplace? No one can see it past the litter tray and old toys. Shelves stacked with stuff, clothes on the floor, overflowing bins… the list goes on.
Top tip: Before you put your home on the market, have a clear out. A tidy home makes a real difference.
OTT
Now, we all love a bit of leopard print (don’t we?), but if you’ve got animal print wallpaper, a neon pink feature wall or heavily patterned carpets, your taste might be putting buyers off.
When selling, try to ensure that the décor is as neutral as possible. That might mean investing in a pot of paint or hiding those bling bling vases in the attic. (Note: It might also mean changing those red satin bed sheets after Valentine’s Day.)
Ugly on the outside
They say never to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes, the outside of a property is so unattractive that buyers write it off before even entering. If any of the following apply to your home, make sure to get them sorted.
– Broken gutters or pipes
– Overgrown weeds and dead plants
– Damage to exterior walls
– Abandoned toys
– Smelly bins
An external makeover should help increase the enquiries you get about your property.
Quick fixes
Unless your buyer is looking for a ‘fixer-upper’, most people don’t want to be confronted with countless issues as soon as they walk into a property. Obvious repairs – such as small damp patches, peeling wallpaper, broken doors/windows/fitted units – need sorting.
If there are structural or damp problems that you’ve decided not to tackle, don’t hide them.
Be honest and be realistic; this will affect the value and desirability of a property.
