What makes a home more desirable to buyers? What is that magic ingredient, that special something that helps convert a window-shopper into a genuine buyer ready to make an offer on your house?
Actually, it’s a combination of things, practical things that home buyers are looking for … and if you have ‘them’, or even some of ‘them’, it shouldn’t take long for your home to be snapped up.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at a list of the ‘somethings’ that motivate prospective home buyers into making an offer to buy. Let’s start by setting out some of the simple things you can do to help make your home attractive to buyers:
1. Walk around the inside and outside of the property and get rid of any clutter or rubbish you see lying around. Try to make the rooms in the house look large and airy, not dark, small and cramped. Consider putting your bulky furniture in storage. Less is more. Rooms in an uncluttered home appear brighter and more spacious, which will appeal to buyers.
2. Be critical of how your home looks. If some of the rooms are looking tired and hungover, buy some paint and give them a makeover. And while you’re at it, why not make your home more welcoming by giving the front door a new and colourful coat of paint too. If you have a third bedroom that you’re using as a dumping ground for all sorts of household bumph, clear it all out and make it into a cosy study or office.
3. Fix or replace missing or broken door handles and repair any holes in the walls or broken window latches. Check for cracked window panes and have these replaced. Clean the house from top to bottom – remove any limescale, make sure no mould is apparent, get rid of nasty odours, give your wooden floors a good shine and hang up clean towels in the bathrooms. Finally, check that your garden is looking shipshape – if needed, trim the hedges, cut the grass and clean the patio … and for goodness sake, mend that broken fence!
4. The kitchen is the most important room in the house, especially for buyers, so it’s a good idea to clean and declutter the surfaces and remove any non-essential bulky appliances to help make the room look bigger. If money allows, upgrade the counter tops and reface the cabinets, as this is sure to increase the value of your home.
5. On viewing days, make sure your house smells good and is filled with fragrant flowers. It’s a good idea to leave a bowl of fruit in the dining room and on the kitchen table. It also helps if your home has a strong mobile signal (not that you can do much about it if it doesn’t), and if your home is close to a good pub or restaurant, or even a popular takeaway, mention this in conversation to your estate agent or prospective buyers.
6. Oh, and if you’re close to a primary school, also mention this to buyers – this will be of particular interest to young families. Storage space is also important, so raid the piggy bank and hire a professional to build some cupboards into any available nooks and crannies in the house.
7. Key priorities for home buyers include warmth and energy efficiency, so central heating and double glazing are a must. Buyers are also keen to have a broadband signal that is strong enough to stream films and TV. Contact your provider to see if they can provide superfast broadband. Although a garage is first prize, buyers will at least want a car space that’s off-road and secure.
Now you know what home buyers are looking for when they’re house-hunting, so good luck!
Oh, and before we wrap up, let’s a take a look at some of the things buyers will run a mile from:
Little Johnny’s pet snake or rabbit on show in his bedroom…
Stained and dirty carpets, especially in a bathroom bedroom or toilet…
A downstairs loo if there isn’t one upstairs…
A garden that looks like a scene from The Day of the Triffids…
Curtain pelmets that only catch dust…
Ugly damp patches and mould…
Wet washing hanging in the bathroom…
Dogs tied up in the back garden…
Doors that are hanging off their hinges…
Sagging or broken fences…
Overhanging trees…
A yard full of rubble…
Cracked and broken paving stones…
Door locks that don’t work…
Toilets that don’t flush properly…
Taps that drip…
Ceiling lights with no lampshades
Rooms with furniture so close you can’t squeeze past…
Walls painted black, red or navy-blue…
Article provided by Sara Bryant, an independent content writer working alongside a selection of companies including Peter Barry Estate Agents, who were consulted over this post.
