5 Low Cost Fixes to Increase the Value of Your Home

When it comes to selling a property, first impressions count for a lot. According to the findings of a recent survey, it takes just eight minutes for a potential buyer to decide whether or not they want to buy your home. The same poll found that 15% of buyers would be put off even viewing a house or flat because of a scruffy front door.  

While many people can see past the appearance of a property, others want to do as little work as possible before buying a home. Luckily, there are plenty of low-cost ways to increase your home’s market value and make it more desirable to buyers.

Before you try to increase the value of your home, however, you should hire a chartered surveyor for a full inspection valuation. A professional with experience of the housing market in your area can then tell you how much your home is currently worth and point out ways to increase its value.

“When you use an experienced and highly trained RICS Registered Chartered Valuer Surveyor, you can be certain in receiving an accurate valuation that will have the most credibility when dealing with third parties.” Foundation Surveyors

You may well have big projects to undertake, but there are also some quick fixes that could help persuade house hunters that your property is “the one.”

Let the light in

A dark property can be incredibly off-putting to potential buyers, so you should try to let as much natural light into your home as possible. Get the windows professionally cleaned, hang light curtains and consider painting your walls white and adding mirrors. Not only will these simple changes brighten up your home, but they will also make the rooms look bigger, too. Artificial light can also make a huge difference to a property’s interior, so invest in some lamps to highlight key features of your home and lighten up dark corners.

Declutter

Decluttering your home is one of the cheapest, most effective ways to make it more desirable to buyers. Assuming you’re still living there, your property is likely to be filled with possessions; knick-knacks and photographs that make it feel like home. While these details can add personality to a property, they also make it hard for new buyers to imagine themselves living there. Stow away all personal items and opt for neutral décor and your home could get an instant boost in value.

Smarten up your kitchen

If you only do up one area of your house pre-sale, it should be the kitchen. This room is often thought of as the heart of a home, so it’s a space that buyers will naturally feel drawn to. If you can afford to replace old appliances and redecorate, your kitchen will be instantly more desirable to buyers. Other tried and tested methods in freshening up kitchens include re-painting cupboard doors, hanging shelves and replacing old flooring – if the budget allows.

Boost your bathroom

Your bathroom is an easy room to redecorate and well worth the small amount of effort it takes. You may not be planning on replacing the plumbing or getting a new shower fitted, but there are still changes to be made. Shop around for an attractive new showerhead and taps that match, replace your shower curtain, buy a new toilet seat and perhaps invest in a nice mirror to hang over the sink.

A simple coat of paint can also make a bathroom look more attractive, as can some accessories, fluffy towels and plants. The idea is to create rooms that people want to spend time in – where they can see themselves living for the next few years.

Tidy up your garden

Remember: You only have eight minutes to persuade a potential buyer. Therefore, the outside of your home is arguably its most valuable asset. Spend some time trimming the hedges; removing weeds and giving the garden and porch a tidy-up – and you’ll have improved your home without spending a penny.

If you want to make your home appear even more appealing, you could paint the front door, place some plant pots, lay down a new path or hang some baskets of flowers outside your front door. Whatever you do, make sure the first impression of your home is one your viewers will remember for the right reasons.

Making some simple, low-cost improvements to your home can instantly increase its value. It can also mean the difference between selling your home quickly and spending months on the market. Follow your surveyor’s advice, make some small improvements of your own, and when it’s time to sell you may well reap the benefits from the time and effort you invested into boosting the value of your home.  

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