Are you selling your home and moving on to pastures new? If so, you’re probably hoping for a smooth ride. Buying and selling houses can be notoriously stressful, but it can also be incredibly exciting. Here are some tips to help you sell your home and enjoy a seamless move.
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Selling your home
Before your house goes on the market
Before the for sale signs go up, there are a few things you may wish to do.
DIY and adding value
If you’ve got any outstanding DIY jobs, try and finish them off before the agents come. You may also wish to do a little redecorating to make your home look more appealing. If you’ve got garish colours in kid’s bedrooms, you could invest in some neutral coloured paints and give the bedrooms a mini makeover. Often, doing little jobs like this can open you up to a wider market. When people come through the door, they see a more versatile space, which may suit them better.
If you’re not in a hurry to sell, you may wish to consider taking some steps to add value to your home. Sometimes, it’s worth spending money to increase your profit in the long-run. Two highly effective ways of doing this are converting lofts and basements and updating your kitchen.
If you have vacant space, which is sitting there waiting to be used, this is a great opportunity to increase the value. Lofts are excellent for adding bedrooms while a basement can make an incredible family kitchen. You could also use these spaces to make a playroom, games room, a study or studio. If you are interested in a conversion project, call in some local builders. They can give you some ideas when it comes to planning the layout and provide quotes.
When most people are looking for a new home, they focus their search on the kitchen. A beautiful, spacious kitchen can sell a house. If your kitchen is small or dated, it’s often worth doing some improvement work. You may decide to knock through the dining room and create a larger, more open space. Or you could consider extending into the back garden. It’s worth getting some builders and architects in and weighing up the pros and cons.
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Injecting some curb appeal
Many people buy houses based on an emotional response, as well as practical advantages. If you don’t like the appearance of a property, you’re unlikely to buy it. It’s important that your home makes a good impression from the outset. If you’re looking to sell, take a little time to inject some curb appeal. People will often drive past if they see the details of a house on the Internet or in an agent’s window. You’ll also have potential buyers driving past and noticing the for sale sign. Simple things can make all the difference. Place some planters in the front garden. Clear and jet wash the driveway. Open the curtains. Add some potted trees to the porch. Give the front door a lick of paint. A couple of hours and a few finishing touches could completely change the aesthetic of your home.
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Sprucing and cleaning
Before you get agents around, or you organise viewings, make sure your home is clean and tidy. Clear away clutter, as this is a major turn-off for buyers. Open a couple of windows and let the natural light and fresh air in. Clear the garden and mow the lawn. Polish furniture and give the bathroom a scrub. Spray some room fragrance and dot some vases of flowers and candles around your home. Add a mirror to the entrance hall to create an illusion of more space. Scatter some cushions and throws on sofas, chairs, and beds to create a homely atmosphere.
Choosing the right agent
When you’re ready to start the selling process, you’ll probably call on an estate agent to help you out. But how do you choose the right one? It’s worth shopping around and seeing what different agencies offer. Organise a few meetings and compare packages and prices. You may wish to ask for valuations from different agencies and then make a decision. It’s also a good idea to see what kinds of fees apply for each different option. Go for an agency, which has a good track record. If you’re looking for a comprehensive service, a firm like Bridgfords.co.uk has it. Your agent is not just responsible for selling your home. They can also help you to identify local trends and provide you with advice to ensure you appeal to your target market.
Using feedback
Once you’ve had some viewings, your agents can relay comments from buyers and provide you with feedback. This can help you to address any problems that keep cropping up or make your home more attractive to buyers. You may decide to change the decor slightly or remove some furniture to make your rooms look larger. You may be advised to lower the price slightly to appeal to a broader spectrum of people. It’s wise to take people’s ideas and opinions on board.
Negotiating and getting the best price
If you’ve got offers on the table, don’t rush. It can be tempting to accept offers straight away especially if you’ve been waiting a while. But take your time and mull over your options. If you get an asking price offer, that’s brilliant and you’ll probably accept it immediately. If an offer does not match your expectations, try and negotiate. You’ll often find that there’s room to manoeuvre on both sides. Buyers tend to go in low in the off chance that there may be a deal to be done. If you’re not satisfied with the sum, reject the offer and wait to see if they go any higher. You want to get the right price, but you also need to be realistic. Don’t turn down a good offer for the sake of a few hundred pounds. Once you’ve accepted an offer, your estate agent and solicitor will liaise with the other party to complete the process. This can take several weeks, so try and be patient.
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Packing and moving tips
They say moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do. But if you go about it the right way, it can actually be a lot easier than expected.
Once you have a moving date, book a removal firm or hire a van if you plan to move your own possessions. You can hire a firm to take care of all your packing, as well as the actual move. If you’re very busy, this can save you a lot of time and hassle. If you’re packing your own things, planning ahead is hugely beneficial.
Start with rooms you don’t use much and pack away anything you’re unlikely to need in the coming weeks. If it’s summer, you can pack all your winter coats and boots, for example. Take the opportunity to have a clear out while you’re packing. Moving house is a fantastic time to get rid of any useless clutter and anything you don’t need or want. Set aside a pile and take it down to your local charity shop when you have a minute.
Make a packing list and work through it. As you get closer to the move, you can start packing up the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. On the day you move, pack an overnight bag with essentials so that you don’t have to worry about trawling through boxes on the first day. Make sure you label all boxes with the intended destination in your new home. This will save you so much time when you get to other end.
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Getting settled in your new home
If you have time off work when you’ve moved, use it to get sorted and settled. Start unpacking as soon as you can. There’s no rush to start doing DIY or painting walls, but the sooner you get unpacked, the better. If you’ve got loads to do, why not invite friends and family around to help? Many hands will make light work of folding and putting away clothes and filling up kitchen cupboards. When you’ve settled in, you can start thinking about making your new house a home. Add some interior design touches to inject your personality and make your home inviting and cosy.
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If you’re selling your home, you may be a little apprehensive about the months to come. Selling up and moving on can be daunting. But if you follow these steps, it should hopefully be hassle-free. Get your home primed and ready for sale and shop around for the best estate agent. Take feedback from buyers on board and think about how you could make your home more appealing. If you’re in a rush to sell, you may wish to try and add value beforehand. Once you’ve got an offer, think about it carefully and take your time. When it’s time to move on, try and plan ahead and pack up as and when you can. Contact a removals firm and remember to leave essential items out. Try and get sorted as quickly as possible and then you can look forward to getting settled. Good luck!
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