3 Ways to add value to your home, pre-sale

What adds value to a house? This is a question we are frequently asked by home sellers wanting to increase home resale value. Ultimately, all sellers want to achieve the maximum sale price along with a smooth sale.

Even in a buyer’s market like we are currently experiencing, presenting your home in its best light doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. We’ve taken a look at three essential ways you can increase the value of your home before you sell it, along with the best renovations to do before selling.

How to increase the value of your home

There are three essential areas to cover if you want to achieve the maximum sale value for your property:

1. Tidy and declutter

Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home. This is a lot easier if your property is a fairly blank canvas, so if you want to know how to sell your house, decluttering is the first and most important thing you need to do. It’s up to you where you start, but every room needs to be tackled.

To help buyers imagine themselves living in your home, make sure all personal items, such as family photographs, are stored away. Then take out all unnecessary furniture to make the room look as spacious and neutral as possible. In particular, items like your favourite recliner and pet beds are turn-offs for buyers, so these need to go! Any worn or damaged furniture should also be removed.

One of the most cluttered rooms tends to be the bathroom. You can help matters here by decanting your toiletries into matching containers to give a neat, stylish look.

In addition, don’t forget to clear out all your cupboards – buyers will look inside them, as they want to know if your property has enough storage space.

Once you have decluttered, you can give everything a deep clean and see what other jobs need doing.

2. Essential maintenance and cosmetic repairs

Buyers are looking for a home which they can move straight into with as little work as possible. For this reason, it is essential to take care of all the little maintenance jobs, such as fixing dripping taps, sticking drawers, or cupboard doors that won’t close. Once all these jobs are complete, you can turn to cosmetic improvements.

How much value does painting add to a house? It can actually help you achieve the sale price you want, as a new coat of paint makes a room look fresh and new. Choose neutral colours so the buyers can imagine putting their own stamp on the property.

Floor coverings are also extremely important here – if they are damaged or look worn, they need to be replaced. If your carpets are in good condition, however, a simple shampoo might be all it takes to get them looking and smelling new.

3. Home staging

You might not realise it, but you have already started staging your home by reducing the amount of furniture to create a more airy, larger-looking space. However, you might want to consult with a home stylist, as professional home styling can add thousands to the final sale price of your home.

The stylist will usually bring some of their own furniture and will arrange your rooms in a way that will look as attractive as possible on photographs. This enables you to attract more potential buyers.

Find out more about how to sell your house

A reputable real estate agent can advise on how to add value to your home. They know the local market so they are in the best position to advise on what changes you need to make, which items to keep, and which need to go. They will also be able to put you in touch with a professional home stylist who can add value to your home.

If you would like more information and advice, please contact us – we are always happy to help.