Advice on Purchasing a Property Looking After Your Home
The last few days has seen the lights come back on for our high street, as non-essential shops have started to tentatively open. We are still doing things with caution and distance, but slowly and surely life is starting to open up a bit more. This confidence can also be seen in the Chelmsford housing market, where we continue to see a demand for people wishing to buy or sell a property. Even with this recent demand, it’s essential to get it right if you want to sell quickly and for the highest possible price, which is why at Charles David Casson we’ve listed 50 ways you could kill your Chelmsford home sale.
First impressions are so important, and the exterior of your home could be what catches a potential buyer’s eye initially.
Too much clutter can make your home feel smaller than it is, have a good sort out before you place your home on the market.
Just as too much clutter can turn off buyers, so can too much mess. Take the time to tidy your home before each viewing.
A quick and easy way to turn off buyers is to have a home with obvious signs that some repairs have been neglected – get any problems fixed as soon as possible.
Buyers want to make your property their home; that is hard for them to imagine if your walls are covered with personal photos and items which completely unique to you. Allow them the chance to see themselves in your property by depersonalising your home.
Your style is unique to you, but you want your home to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers, so try and keep it as neutral as possible.
This is the focal point of your home; a shabby door or a tired door knob could leave buyers underwhelmed.
Don’t make it difficult for buyers by not displaying your house number clearly so they can find you.
Odours and grime can linger in carpets, giving them a deep clean can freshen and completely transform a room.
We all know kitchens carry a lot of weight with buyers, which is why it’s worth making extra effort here. Keep all your kitchen surfaces as clean as possible, and try and keep small appliances to a minimum.
Buyers will want to have a nosey at the condition of your appliances, so make sure they clean and odour-free, from your dishwasher to your fridge-freezer.
If you have any accessories on display, keep them neutral and contemporary rather than ruffles or lace placemats.
Buyers want a bright and airy kitchen, if yours is a bit on the dark side can you lighten the décor or find ways to add more light?
From your hob to your sink, give your stainless steel a spruce so it’s sparkling for viewings.
What did you cook for dinner last night? The lingering aroma of strong-smelling foods may be too much for potential buyers.
Bar stools around a breakfast bar gives buyers an insight into how they might live in the property, but make sure you don’t crowd the space with too many chairs as it can make your kitchen feel small.
Buyers are expecting a clean and sharp kitchen, not one whose décor is too busy, so tone down any patterns and try and keep things as neutral as possible.
When freshening up any décor, don’t forget the ceiling as this will help to make your kitchen feel bigger and fresher.
No one wants to buy a home with dark spaces, open all blinds and curtains so you can make the most of your home’s natural light.
Rooms with no identity tend to have no appeal, give each room a clear purpose.
At the moment, with the number of people working from home growing, buyers have a place for work on their wish list. Can you create a home office to appeal to these buyers?
Mould can be a common sight in a bathroom but it’s a horror scene for buyers, so re-grout to help your bathroom look like a haven again.
We all have lotions and potions on display in our bathrooms, but they create so much clutter and don’t make your bathroom feel like a place buyers can relax.
Nothing less than spotless will do, enough said!
Your bathroom should be a sanctuary and the illusion can be ruined in an instant with threadbare towels. Buy a new white set that are taken out only for viewings, creating that spa feel.
If the wallpaper in your bathroom is peeling it can make buyers believe there are other issues here and set alarm bells ringing, so get this fixed as soon as possible.
Do you have a dripping shower or leaking tap? Never a good look when your home is on the market.
Bathrooms are a very personal space, so you want it to be a comfortable experience. Damp aromas may make their viewing of your bathroom and your home extremely quick.
Have features been hidden in your period property? Lovers of character homes expect to see features on display.
Having a kids room that looks like a set from a Disney film is a very quick way to turn off buyers.
No one wants to buy a home that smells like cigarettes.
Yes, your pets are cute, but they won’t help to sell your home. Hide their beds, as they will be holding aromas that buyers really don’t want to catch a whiff of.
You’ll already know that dog toys are filled with lovely saliva, dirt and dust and will not be a treat for buyers’ eyes or noses.
Whether it’s an avocado bathroom suite or an ancient carpet, outdated features will not help you when it comes to winning over buyers.
No one is expecting the Chelsea Flower Show, but buyers do want a well-maintained garden – how is yours looking?
You walk into a house that is freezing cold – you can’t wait to get out. Then you walk into a home that is lovely and warm; the fire is on, adding to the overall atmosphere. Which one will steal a buyer’s heart?
No one wants to buy a money pit, so if your home has seen better days, get the repairs done and you will appeal to more buyers.
It’s one of the easiest of jobs, but buyers will notice if you neglect to clean your windows.
Leaking or dripping gutters or overflowing drains give the wrong impression, it doesn’t take much to get them cleared out.
You love your home, but if you’re not able to emotionally detach and come to see it as a property for sale, you may unwittingly sabotage your sale.
We all know we’re living in strange times at the moment, but if you’re inflexible about viewings you may lose potential buyers as they are drawn to alternative properties
If you won’t negotiate at all, buyers will think you’re difficult and see buying your home as too stressful.
We all want you to achieve the best price for your property, but if it’s overpriced it won’t attract those savvy buyers who are watching the Chelmsford property market intently.
If your home isn’t marketed properly you won’t attract the right kind of buyer. What strategies does the agent you have chosen to sell your home use?
Photographs will likely be a buyer’s first insight into your home. You may have taken these yourself if you are self-isolating, but if the images are not up to a professional standard they may not catch a buyer’s eye, so listen to your agent for advice.
Your house isn’t sold when an offer is accepted; if your agent isn’t driving it through to completion you may find that the sale collapses before it can be finalised.
You may not be in a rush, but if you cause any delays you will place doubts in the mind of your buyer, and doubts could mean they walk away.
You may not like hearing the feedback on your home, but remember you are moving, and if you can’t take an objective view and make the suggested changes then maybe you’re not ready to sell.
It may be your home they’re buying, but your noisy or messy neighbours could sabotage your sale.
Does your home give buyers a warm welcome? By simply switching on lights and adding a few little touches, you can turn a poor welcome into a welcome home.
For more ideas on how to appeal to potential buyers in Chelmsford contact a member of our team on 01245 835859.
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Advice on Purchasing a Property
28 Sep 2023
Have you ever wondered about the ins and outs of gettin…
Advice on Purchasing a Property
Advice on Purchasing a Property