Whilst a lot of us will be spending a lot of time at home over the coming weeks, we have come up with 10 cost effective ways of improving your home if you are thinking of selling in the future.
- Start from the outside. How does the property look on approach? Start with the front garden (if you have one). Look at if the drive/garden needs weeding or tidying up. Perhaps put out some plotted plants to add some colour, make sure the front door looks presentable, first impressions really do count.
Freshen up the paintwork. This is something we can all do, relatively easily and not too costly. There is no need to spend hours deciding on paint colours, just make sure the walls are clean and neutral. - Make sure your light bulbs are all working and energy efficient. Having a nice, bright home is important.
- De-clutter! We all know how easy it is to gather stuff in our houses over time, especially if you have lived in the house for a long period, who knows what’s up in that loft? Start with the easy bits, buy a storage unit and get the toys organised and tidied away. Get inside your wardrobes and kitchen cupboards and throw out (or give to charity) anything you don’t use/wouldn’t be taking with you when you are ready to move.
- Fix any small defects. You know those cracks or the broken door handle that you just walk past and think ‘I’ll do that at the weekend’ but the weekend comes and goes, and the handle is still broken? Use any spare time at home to get these fixed. If the bath panel is cracked, order a new one. If there is a crack above the skirting board, get your decorators caulk out. Simple jobs that will make a big difference.
- Paint dark wood where you can. If you have been thinking of changing the kitchen units but are wondering if it adds value or you have a wood panelled ceiling that makes the room darker, give them a few coats of a light coloured paint, it really changes a room and makes it look lighter and brighter. Kitchen units can be painted, door handles/knobs can be changed, and tiles/splashbacks can be updated.
- Prune and update the garden. Power wash the patio, mow the lawn, dig up weeds. As we head towards the warmer months, get out in your garden and clear any unnecessary items and clean/tidy any children’s outdoor toys. If you are lucky enough to have a good-sized garden, make the most of it. Create seating areas where sun is most prominent.
- Freshen up the carpets. Our carpets get a lot of wear and tear and stained carpets can be a bit off putting. Hire a DIY carpet cleaner and run it over the most used areas of carpet. You’ll be surprised at how satisfying this is!
- Tidy away all trailing wires where you can. Head to the DIY shop and get some wire tidies. Clip away the wires underneath the computer, secure them under the TV.
- Make sure your windows are kept clean and any blown panes fixed. This job could be slightly more costly however, just the glass unit can be replaced rather than the whole window.
Whether you are thinking of selling your home soon or planning to stay put for now, hopefully these tips will help you make some cost-effective improvements to your home, without breaking the bank.
