Thinking of selling up? If it’s been a while since your property had an update, and it’s starting to look more ragged than retro cool, you’re probably wondering how to make your home more sellable.
The good news is that as long as the foundations of your home are still in good shape, you might not need to knock down any walls or do a complete renovation to add considerable value.
Making your property feel bigger, brighter and more appealing to prospective buyers is often as easy as a lick of paint or swapping out fixtures and fittings for new ones.
On the other hand, knowing which improvements won’t add value to your potential sale price means you can focus your time and money on those that do.
Ready to get started? Here are 5 easy ways to add value if you’re thinking of selling your home.
1. Paint
Old paint can make your home feel, well, old. But a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. It’ll make your home seem newer, cleaner and more contemporary – and it can easily be done on a tight budget.
If you’re willing to spend the time and energy painting your home yourself, you can get away with only paying for the paint, roller and brushes, drop cloths and other painting accessories. Alternatively, if your budget is a little more flexible, pay for the professionals to do it.
Just make sure to pick neutral colours that’ll stand the test of time or – at the very least – remove dated colours.
2. Improve the garden and outdoor living areas
A goody tidy may be all your garden and outdoor living space need. Cut back overgrown trees, hedges, bushes and foliage, clear up dead leaves, get rid of weeds and dead plants, clean any paved areas, and add fresh mulch if needed.
If you have a deck, give it a good scrub and apply a coat of oil to get it looking spick, span and sellable.
The same goes for any outdoor furniture, features like barbecues or fire pits, and outdoor dining areas.
3. Improve the facade and landscaping
Your home’s facade is likely the first thing prospective buyers will see, and we all know first impressions count.
If your budget allows, you could give the exterior of your home a serious revamp by having it repainted.
If not, simply painting the front door and sprucing up the front garden, paving and fencing can rejuvenate your home’s facade.
Parts of your garden may also look better with a bit of work. You could add new plants or flowers to bare patches, chuck in some garden features like sculptures or lighting, or even consider adding a deck or paved area for al fresco dining.
4. Give the floors some love
Whether you’ve got floorboards, carpet, tiles or something else entirely, any kind of flooring does well with a nice spruce-up to entice buyers.
Have your carpet professionally steam-cleaned to remove stains and get it back to its original glory. There’s only so much cleaning can do, though: if your carpet is too old and far-gone, and the stains are too stubborn, think about replacing it.
You could slot in new carpet or go for a different type of flooring, such as hardwood and the price is often less than you think.
Given their hardiness and attractiveness, hardwood floors are very popular among buyers.
If you have floorboards, have them re-sanded by a professional. If the budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, you can have them rebuffed and polished to get rid of any nicks.
5. Replace old handles and hardware
If your kitchen is stuck in a timewarp, you may not necessarily need to replace the entire thing. By updating the handles and hardware on your cabinets and drawers, you can instantly make a kitchen feel much newer. You can also do this in your bathroom and laundry.
Just make sure to go for a timeless hardware material, such as chrome or brass, which will appeal to a more diverse range of buyers. And try to match the style of your new hardware to your existing kitchen, bathroom or laundry – minimalist stainless steel pulls might look a little odd paired with a vintage-style kitchen.