When you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, you probably start seeing it in a completely different light. After all, a house that’s up for sale is no longer your private space. Suddenly, you may start seeing it through the critical eyes of a potential viewer.
This is great in some ways, as it encourages you to really think about how to paint your property in the best light. Unfortunately, there’s also a pretty high risk that your newly critical home outlook could drive you towards some improvements that just aren’t cost-effective in the long run.
This panicked attempt at improvements is only natural, but how can you possibly know which of your efforts is worthwhile? It’s not easy, but we're with what we like to call the ‘Deal or No Deal’ of pre-sale preparations.
Just like the show, being careful about when you say ‘deal’ is going to help you get the best bang for your home-buying buck. In this article, we’ll consider just a few of the improvement ‘boxes’ you might open during your journey, and whether you should say ‘deal’ or ‘no deal’ in each instance.
# 1 - Essential Repairs: Deal
If your house needs essential repair work, then you’ll definitely want to deal with things before you even come close to putting your home on the market. Even if viewers overlook issues like obvious leaks or structural problems during a viewing, it’ll all come out at the survey stage. And that could lead to a lost sale when you’ve already set your heart on your own new property.
There is a wide range of repairs that could fall into this category, but the main ones include –
Structural repairs: The high costs of structural work might be off-putting before a move, but this is an issue that few homeowners would want to invest in. Seeking professional solutions like foundation repairs and wall reinforcements will make your house far more appealing.
External repairs: The outside of your house is what will most often attract buyer attention, so you’ll want to tackle external repairs like broken guttering or siding repair. External issues like damaged roofing can also lead to internal leaks and damp, highlighting the importance of contacting a roof replacement company long before any buyers look around your home.
Window repairs/replacement: Outdated or inefficient windows are something every buyer will notice. The sooner you seek the help of a professional double glazing installation company, the sooner you can sell.
# 2 - Complete Redecoration: No Deal
It’s easy to start doubting your decorative choices when you’re thinking about selling, especially if it’s been a few years since you reapplied that last coat of paint. But, in most instances, it simply isn’t worth doing a big redecoration job before a move. After all, most buyers will redecorate once they move anyway, so spending large sums of money and effort here will rarely work out.
Of course, that’s not to say you shouldn’t do anything at all on the decoration front. If you have leftover tins of paint, patching up scuffed or marked spots can definitely make your rooms feel fresher and more welcoming. Equally, if you have a particular room in need of some attention, you might sell it quicker from giving it a quick new coat.
Other than that, resist those urges and just leave things as they are. The chances are that buyers won’t even factor decor into their considerations.
# 3 - Furniture Replacements: No Deal
Okay, so you’ve realized it might not be best to redecorate your entire place before selling, but what about buying some shiny new furniture to make the place look good? Again, we urge you to simply sit back and make do with the furniture you have. As with decoration, potential buyers simply don’t think about your furniture before putting in an offer. That stuff won’t be there once they move in, so why would they? Even if you convince yourself those new pieces are an investment for your future home, there’s every chance they’ll end up going to waste when you buy a property that doesn’t suit or fit them.
All of that said, the way you stage your rooms during viewings most definitely does matter. While buyers probably won’t look at your furniture itself, they will take note of things like the size of the room, the natural light, the general flow, all of which you can enhance without spending a cent by simply moving your existing pieces into a better position.
# 4 - Small Fixes: Deal
We’ve already spoken about major home repairs that need attention before a move, but what about the smaller home maintenance tasks that crop up when you live in a property for an extended period? We’re talking about leaky faucets and limescale around your shower head, or even things like mold on your kitchen sink sealant.
Let’s be honest, these small tasks aren’t going to make a huge difference to the overall appeal of your property, nor will they add even a small amount of value. BUT, they do help to create a generally better impression of a well-maintained property. More to the point, they’re so affordable and easy to address that it just doesn’t make sense to leave them as they are.
# 5 - Complete Renovations: No Deal
We all have a dream for our properties. If money were no issue and the work wouldn’t disrupt our lives, we would likely all opt for a fresh bathroom or kitchen renovation. Perhaps you even intended to embark on this project when you moved in. But then life got in the way, and here you are, considering a move without ever having changed even the slightest thing about your bathroom.
But then, you’re prepping for your move, and you come across all of these articles talking about how something as simple as a bathroom renovation could add up to 20% to your property value. Not only that, but you’re looking at other homes in the area, and seeing far more modernized bathrooms than the one you’re intending to sell. Panic sets in, and you start to wonder – would it be worth just jumping in with a renovation before you put your house on the market?
It’s a natural thought process, but let us stop things there by telling you that, in almost every instance, complete renovation work simply isn’t worth it for the sake of a sale. For one thing, value-added costs rarely add up to money directly back in your pocket, especially if you’re working with mortgage brokers and other moving fees. What’s more, renovations are never cut and dry. You’ll likely run over time and budget, both of which are going to harm rather than help your move.
# 6 - Deep Cleaning: Deal
Even if a property has great bones, buyers are unlikely to bite if they’re faced with messy sides and dusty floors during a viewing. Hence why a deep clean is always worth your while. Admittedly, potential buyers probably aren’t going to look inside your cupboards, so you could leave cleaning these hidden areas until you’re packing away your belongings to move. But, if anything is set to be on display during a viewing, try to keep it sparkling clean and as attractive as possible.
Prepping your home for sale is never easy, but you can ease the process a little by understanding exactly which steps you should take, and which improvements are probably best avoided.
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