How to sell your house

Outside of London, there are currently more houses for sale than buyers. So, what can you do to make your house stand out and sell more quickly? Here are some great tips on what to do to make your house more valuable and sellable.

Tidy up

This may sound like an obvious tip, but many people forget it. It is said that a potential buyer makes a decision within 7-10 seconds of seeing a house, so first impressions really do count. Make sure that any clutter is cleared away or put into storage, and that anything on display is presented neatly.

DIY

Time to get out the tools and fix any of those jobs you’ve been putting off. Make sure door handles and hinges are secure. If there’s any incomplete work in bathrooms or the kitchen make sure this is done before trying to sell your house. The kitchen and bathroom are normally considered the most important rooms in the house when selling, so make sure everything is perfect.

Conversions & Remodelling

Speaking of the kitchen, why don’t you remodel yours to add value? Typically, the increase in value of your house outweighs the cost of fitting a new kitchen. As well as a new kitchen, there are many other conversions you can make to your house to increase the value. Extensions, loft conversions, basements and garage conversions are all things that can add more value to your house than what they cost. If you don’t have the time or money to do these things, you can always apply for planning permission anyway, which then becomes a unique selling point.

Choose the right Estate Agent

Ask several estate agents to evaluate your house and show you any similar properties they have sold recently. You can check online reviews to see how happy their previous customers are, or go along to some viewings to see how well they present their clients (you might even find your new home!). Most importantly though, check the estate agents online presence. Over 90% of buyers look at homes they've found on the Internet.

Photography

Viewing your property online is the very first impression that the buyer gets about your house, so high-quality colour photos of the house and garden(s) are very important. Hiring a professional photographer will help to fully illustrate the potential of your home. Again, this is a cost that is outweighed by the value of selling your house.

Staging

You know the classic technique of baking some cookies, and lighting scented candles? As well as becoming a bit of a cliché, most buyers are put off by strong smells as they feel that they could be used to mask something else. Instead, get a discreet plug-in freshener which keeps bad smells away without overpowering the senses. In recent studies, it is shown to be much more important to ensure your home is properly furnished, with rooms being used for their intended purpose. Tidy away any personal items/photos, and evidence of pets, then put on the heating or fire and create a warm, inviting atmosphere that the buyer can imagine as their own.

Evans & Partridge are estate agents based in Stockbridge, specialising in the sale of village and rural properties. For more information on how we can help you sell your home, please visit our website: http://www.evansandpartridge.co.uk/