Spring is almost here and that means one thing…
No, not lighter evenings and daffodils.
It means the property market is about to burst into life.
And this year, with the General Election and Brexit over and done with, many commentators are predicting an extremely active market.
But if you are thinking of putting your property on the market, how do you know it’s ready?
Here are five things you should do to make sure your property is all set to attract those eager spring buyers…
1. De-clutter your home
While Christmas might seem like it was an age away, clutter in properties usually increases after the festive season.
Before you start talking to estate agents about putting your home on the market, try to clear away as much as you can.
So, that means storing away things like toys, shoes, bathroom products and kitchen appliances that you don’t use every day.
Buyers need to visualise their own things in your home and it can be difficult to look past a mountain of clutter.
From an estate agent’s point of view, clearing away clutter before they take marketing photographs of your property is a must.
2. De-personalise your home – but not too much
Most pieces such as this one will tell you to completely de-personalise your property of family pictures, kids’ drawings and ornaments before you open the door to potential buyers.
While this is true to an extent, buyers do want to see that a property is lived in and cared for.
And if there are no pictures of you and your family around, your property could come across as cold and un-loved.
Remove the majority of personal items if your property is full of them, but leave a few well-chosen pictures around to show you really have feelings for your home and love living there.
3. Give your décor a lift
One thing it can be worth de-personalising is your décor.
We’ve all got different tastes and if your chosen paint is a few shades brighter than most buyers’, they might be put off.
White or off-white is usually a good place to start when re-painting walls, but don’t be afraid to leave a little colour on feature walls as you don’t want your property to come across as sterile.
4. Clean, clean, clean
And we don’t mean a quick run around with a duster and a vacuum, either.
While you might think you could eat your dinner off almost any surface in your home, the truth is dirt and grime has a funny way of staying put.
The best way to present your property to buyers is after a deep clean by a professional cleaning company.
They’ll get to the areas you can’t reach and will have the equipment to breathe new life into things like carpets and shower screens.
Yes, it’s an expense, but it’s worth it.
5. Sort the garden out
Winter is the worst time for a garden – particularly a winter like this one where wind and rain from storms like Ciara and Dennis has left a lasting imprint on properties everywhere.
With March and April looking, dare we say it, a little brighter, that’s the time to step outside and give your garden a spruce up.
Buyers will unquestionably be put off by an overgrown or unkempt outdoor space, so take a jet wash to your patios and cut back hedges, trees and your lawn.
Doing all this will allow your buyers to see the kind of work required to maintain your garden as much as it will enable them to see themselves sat outside with a glass of wine on a warm summer’s evening
For more information and advice about putting your home up for sale, get in touch with your local Martin & Co office.
