First impressions are lasting impressions. If your house is in need of some TLC, it might scare off potential buyers who don’t want a project to work on or put you on the backfoot when it comes to price negotiations.
Fortunately, most repairs and maintenance issues can be handled with a few basic tools, a can-do attitude, and a free weekend.
The first step is to take a look at your property with an unbiased view. Think to yourself, “If I was looking to buy this house, what would send up a red flag?”
Struggling to see potential issues? The property marketing experts at Strawberry Forge have worked with UK-based real estate agents, and they’ve shared their insights with us on what jobs need completing around the house before selling up.
Table of Contents
Spruce up the Walls
The condition of your walls will have a huge effect on a potential buyer’s opinion of your property. Chances are high they’ll want to redecorate when they move in anyway, but that doesn’t mean buyers will ignore any possible signs of neglect during a viewing.
You don’t have to go overboard, but cleaning away any scuff marks on painted walls, and touching up areas where paint has chipped off will work wonders.
If your walls are papered, make sure the paper isn’t peeling or curling away at the corners. This can also be a sign of damp, so make sure to get your walls checked out by a specialist if you think there might be a bigger issue at play.
Make sure to give your exterior walls some care and attention, too. Repainting the facade of your house helps create a great first impression, and your realtor will be able to take amazing photos for marketing your property.
Give the Doors a Once-Over
You’ll probably leave most of the doors in your home open during viewing to give your interior a more spacious feel, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry just in case a potential buyer closes a door behind them.
Rattling doorknobs and squeaky hinges can be annoying, and they give your property a “haunted house” vibe. A quick turn of your screwdriver and a touch of oil on the hinges are effective ways to keep your doors from creaking and rattling.
Fix the Floorboards
Loose and squeaky floorboards are all too easy to overlook because they’re often out of sight and out of mind. But, they can be a red flag to potential buyers if they step on one, and they may start thinking about other unseen issues hidden throughout the property.
Luckily, the solution is relatively straightforward. A couple of nails and a hammer is all you need to stop loose boards from wobbling, and a dry lubricant will put an end to squeaky noises.
And Make Sure Your Property Sparkles
You’d be surprised how many people conduct property viewings where clothes are flung all over the place, dirty dishes have been left on the side and the trash hasn’t been taken out.
A home covered in dirt and grime will make potential buyers feel uncomfortable, so you need to give your property a good clean before inviting anyone in to look around.
Housework might not be fun, but it is necessary. And leaving the windows open (providing it’s not windy and rainy outside) will allow fresh air to circulate through each room, getting rid of any hard-to-remove smells as well.
Presenting Your Home in the Best Light
Remember, when you put your house up for sale, you’re not selling bricks and mortar. You’re selling a home, a place where the buyers will settle down and live their best lives.
In order to make the sale, you have to create a space where they can imagine how good life will be in your property. All the small issues pointed out in this article can get in the way of selling the dream, but they’re very easy to fix.
As long as you follow the guidance provided by Strawberry Forge, you stand a good chance of a deal being made in no time!
