So, how can you add value to your home without breaking the bank? Below, property and construction expert Natalie Mitchell at HomeHow.co.uk explains everything you need to know. Take a look at the five tips below on how to add £5k to your home.
Do a Deep Clean
When someone comes to view your property, you want them to imagine living there with a positive outcome. Grime and dust will give potential buyers the impression that your home has not been well looked after or cared for. With this in mind, you must ensure your home is spotless before letting viewers step through the door.
There’s no point in adding new paintwork or fixing up old furnishings if the place looks grubby. A dirty bathroom is the biggest turn-off for potential buyers. Keep this in mind when completing your house cleaning, and be sure to give the bathroom a little extra attention.
You can easily remove scuffs with a bucket of sugar water. This is the best gentle approach to getting rid of most marks.
Deep cleaning of the carpets is also essential. Alternatively, if your floorboards are in good shape, strip them back and apply some varnish to them. It’s also very important to clean the windows and window sills as well, both on the inside and outside of the home.
You can complete a lot of this work yourself with no costs other than the price of the products used. Alternatively, you can hire a professional cleaner to perform a deep clean for you, which shouldn’t cost too much in comparison to the value that this could add.
READ MORE: Swap vinegar for this everyday item to defeat limescale!
Do Some Simple Decorating
Another thing that often puts off potential home buyers is dodgy paintwork, bold statement walls, and bright off-putting colours. Also, scuffed or discoloured walls can be a huge turn-off and may reduce the value of your home considerably.
Again, you want people to feel like they can move into your home and feel at home right away, rather than consider all of the work they’ll have to complete themselves after the sale has gone through.
Buying a few things like brushes, rollers, sandpaper, and paint won’t cost a huge amount. Doing a bit of decorating can help you create more of a blank canvas for potential buyers, which will be much more appealing. Opt for neutral colours and keep an eye on the quality of the finish.
READ MORE: How to use symmetry in your home
Declutter The Space
When it comes to showing your house to potential buyers, you want to think minimalistic. Removing any excess clutter around the home can add a sense of space and will give potential buyers the opportunity to better imagine their own belongings in the space.
A lot of people feel like they need to completely empty everything out of their home in order to sell it. However, that isn’t the case. It’s important to have a little bit of soul and personality in the home so that your potential buyers can imagine living there. However, sellers do need to be aware of clutter.
Too much clutter can make the home seem smaller and disorganised. Take some time to remove as much of the clutter as possible without leaving the rooms completely bare. Consider storing clutter in unused spaces such as the garage, a garden shed, or cupboards. Better yet, ask your family or friends if you can store some of your things at their homes until you’ve completed the sale.
Do Some Small Repairs
Have you got some small home issues, such as a cracked tile or a dripping tap? If so, it’s a good idea to rectify these before you start showing your home, as these could send the wrong message to buyers. You want potential buyers to think the home has been well looked after and cared for. So you want to avoid leaving anything in place that could suggest otherwise.
There are several small things that you could fix around the home. Whether it’s replacing a damaged piece of carpet or replacing a grubby sealant, no matter how small the issue may seem, anything that could potentially turn off a buyer is something that you should rectify.
Small repairs won’t cost a lot, but these small improvements could greatly impact your ability to sell your home for a higher price.
Think About The Front Door
The front door is the very first thing that potential buyers will see when they come to view your property. Could your front door do with a lick of paint? If so, get it done before you put your home on the market.
If your front door is quite old and battered, it may be worth considering installing a completely new one. This shouldn’t cost too much if you shop around. It’s important to choose a front door that fits in well with your home’s colour scheme and aesthetic appeal.
Tasteful letterboxes and doorknobs can be very helpful in improving the overall appearance of your front door. Consider placing a hanging basket next to the front door or a beautiful potted plant outside the door to add some style.
