Preparing your house for a sale during lockdown

As the uncertainty and impact of COVID-19 continues to evolve, most of the UK are currently in lock down self-isolating and social distancing to stay safe and help to stop the spread of the virus.

This lockdown period can be really tough times for some, particularly in terms of mental health, so please do check in on your friends, family and neighbours. We’re very lucky in this day and age to have access to facetime and video calls to maintain social interaction via modern day technology.

Having spoken to some Leeds homeowners, we found they were choosing to use this time at home wisely to get odd jobs done and make a start on their household chore list. We thought we’d put together a few tips and some advice on what you could look at doing to enhance your property’s value, or prepare it for sale should a move be on the cards this year – whilst also hopefully helping to keep your mind and body active during this time.

There are a few typical things that will put many buyers off that can be easily resolved by any competent DIY-er.

Here are our 7 Top Tips on areas to consider…

• Decorating – Giving your home a lick of paint and doing some general maintenance can be done at a very low cost. Fresh paint in modern, neutral colours goes a long way to give your home a new lease of life.
• Kitchen Makeover – Kitchens are usually the focus of a house for many buyers but having a brand-new kitchen installed can be costly as well as causing disruption in the process! Painting units, upgrading the work surfaces, or replacing cupboard handles or doors are a cost-effective way of refreshing a kitchen.
• Bathroom Makeover – Replace any moldy sealants in bathrooms or consider even re-grouting the tiles. This applies to kitchens too! Consider changing your taps, replacing your shower curtain, or perhaps adding a glass shower screen to modernise the space.
• Lighting – Good lighting is key. Make sure there is adequate light in each room, particularly in the hallway, which tend to be darker areas. If there is not enough light, consider replacing a single pendant with a triple halogen spotlight unit, available for as little as £10. Adding a mirror to hallways and bathrooms can often help create the illusion of light and space.
• Flooring – Removing tiles can be a difficult and very time-consuming job but consider painting unfashionable tiles with white tile paint. Perhaps look at replacing dated patterned carpets with an on-trend grey or other neutral colour.
• Gardening – A good clean up can work wonders to outdoor space. Tidy litter, dead-head or remove dead plants and get rid of those weeds. Repair and feed the lawn, cut back overgrown trees and shrubs, create interesting shapes with beds and borders and add colour and interest with planting. Colour in your garden really can make the difference when it comes to taking marketing photographs. If you have children at home and are running out of ideas to entertain them, why not get them involved in planting too – it’s a great way of getting out in the fresh air and curing boredom! Another wise use of time is jet washing slippery paths or patios to ensure they are free of any moss that may have accumulated over the winter period.
• Consider you first impressions – The saying is true, first impressions do count! Many potential buyers make a decision on a property simply from its kerb appeal, or the lead photo on a listing. A useful trick is to snap a picture of the exterior and interior yourself and then look at it with an objective eye. Sometimes it is hard to spot things when you see them day in day out, whereas a photograph can give you a fresh perspective and might notice something you can easily improve. Most buyers will decide if they do or do not like a property before they even get out of the car and it can be hard to shake off negative first impressions created by a poor or unattractive exterior. Consider replacing or painting the entrance door, and make sure you have a smart house sign/number visible so your property can be easily identified.

If you have concerns about renting, selling or buying during this uncertain time, or even just want a general chat, then please feel free to give us a call and we’ll be on hand to lend a friendly ear!

To book a Sales Valuation of your property – either face to face or virtually – please get in touch with Alexandra on 0113 322 9533.

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