If you are moving in order to achieve a change of lifestyle then it’s likely to involve a change of area. Prices may be different in the area you are moving to – cheaper or more expensive. Indeed, you may be moving to a cheaper area precisely in order to move to a bigger property or have more money left over to enjoy other activities. What if it’s the other way though and prices are higher in the area you want to move to? Clearly, finding the right mortgage is crucial but so is maximising the sale price of you current property, that extra £5,000 or £10,000 may make all the difference. We all want to make as much money as we can when selling but when every penny counts it is even more important. Getting the best price for your home is all about maximising the appeal of your property to get lots of viewings which lead to offers. Here are a few suggestions.
Space
Buyers love space. Look around your rooms and ask yourself “is there anything here that isn’t necessary?” – a table for example. Apply this to ornaments as well, it is surprising how a lot of “nick nacks” (if you’ll forgive the expression) make a space seem cramped and they are a distraction. Are there pieces of furniture that impede the flow of the room and make it difficult to walk around or move from one place to another. If so try moving them around or remove them. A useful tool is to take the furniture out if you can, cut a template from a piece of pieces of newspaper, place them on the floor and move them around. This will give you an idea of how much space they take up and it is much easier to move paper around than actual furniture.
Zoning
There is connection with space. If your living space is open plan then it can be difficult for buyers to work out how they would use the space. It is important to create definition whilst at the same time keeping that feeling of space. There are several ways of doing this. One is to use different flooring in different areas, for example, wood or laminate in a dining area and carpet in a living area. Alternatively, use rugs. Another option is to use different wall colours or a combination of paint and wallpaper. You can also use room dividers, a low storage unit or console table or sometimes simply rearranging the furniture is enough. These are all cost effective options. After all, styling your home for sale isn’t about spending lots of money.
Colour
I think we are all aware that colour has the power to influence how we feel. Colours such as blue feel cool while yellow feels warming although it also depends on the shade and tone of the colour. Refreshing your décor with a coat of paint is a very easy way to make a space feel more appealing. When selling remember that it’s all about attracting the maximum number of viewings so if you have walls decorated in strong colours that aren’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, tone it down. You aren’t going to please everyone, and it is true that most buyers will want to put their own stamp on a property but you want them to walk in and think that they can live with what is there in the meantime. Off white, pale grey or a pale sage green are good neutrals.
To sum up, if you want to make that lifestyle changing move and need to maximise the budget then create great space, zone that space and think about the use of colour. Are you stuck on the market and need some help? Call me on 07745 876182 or e mail me at info@homestyle4u.com and book a no obligation Fact Finding session. I cover Wirral, Cheshire and the North West.
