Although spring is usually a good time to put your house up for sale, buyers don’t stop searching for their next home during the summer months. In fact, the average number of days it takes to sell a house during the summer is just 56 days, compared to 70 days during the winter months.
If you need to sell your home this summer, there are a lot of things you can do to boost your chances of a sale. In this week’s blog, our sales team share their advice to give your property that all important ‘kerb appeal’.
Think about your buyer’s needs
Firstly, you’ll need to think about the needs and wants of your buyers. Ask yourself the question: what kind of person is likely to live in your property? If it’s young couples that might be technologically savvy, you could place a few gadgets around the house. If it’s first-time buyers, they might want a property with newer white goods and furnishings included.
However, don’t over-clutter your property and keep it as neutral as possible. Take out any personal photos or items so potential buyers can visualise themselves living in the space. But don’t go too far, show off each room and its function.
First impressions matter
Most buyers decide whether a house is for them within the first few minutes, so make sure their first impression is brilliant. Ensure your house name or number is easy to spot, and if you have a car, park it elsewhere so buyers can pull up right to the house. Tidy the pathway and put away any unsightly items, such as bins.
Tidy-up outdoor space
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, take advantage of the weather and get it looking its best. As a minimum, keep any lawns short, cut back shrubs and pull up any weeds. Give your garden that ‘wow’ factor by adding some colourful flower pots and mature plants to borders.
Design an attractive social space by adding a table, some chairs, a BBQ and some welcoming features such as a fire pit or some pretty solar powered lights.
Let the outdoors in
Let your beautiful new outdoor space flow through to the inside of your home. An entrance should be homely and welcoming, so add some plants and fresh flowers. Let the light into your house by opening the curtains and blinds. Hanging mirrors will create the illusion of more space in each room.
If you have pets, tidy away their bowels and toys and plug in an air freshener to get rid of any smells (it’s likely you probably don’t notice any pet smells, so ask for opinion of an honest friend).
Clean your home until shines
Your house might be in direct competition with new build showhomes which are beautifully dressed and sparkling clean, so make sure your place is totally spotless. Go that extra step and deep clean your house before letting people in through the door.
Clean curtains and carpets so they look (almost) new. You’ll probably be used to the occasional mark on a sofa or crack in a wall, but any potential buyers are likely to notice any minor imperfections quite quickly. Windows should be gleaming and shut if they back onto a busy road.
Refresh your photography
Nowadays, most property searches begin online. You can view Stirling Ackroyd’s properties on all the major portals, including Rightmove, OnTheMarket and Zoopla. If your home has been on the market for some time, think about getting some fresh photography. Your home will look its best against blue skies and in the bright summer sunshine.
Buyers will notice photos that have been taken during winter, so ask your estate agent to send around a professional photographer so your property can be viewed online in the best possible light.
Be flexible
If your estate agent notifies you of an interested buyer, try to be as flexible as possible with viewings. If you have a family, out of hours appointments may not be ideal, but the longer days mean buyers are more available during the evenings. Try to think of the light mornings and evenings as a further opportunity to show off the best of your property.
Buyers are more likely to make an offer if see that a property is popular, so consider an open house during the weekend to drum up some interest.
Show off your storage space
Buyers often rate plenty of storage space as one of the most important features of a property. Put away any items that are living on top of cupboards as this is generally an indicator that you don’t have enough space.
Tidy inside cupboards so buyers aren’t met with a wall of old gadgets and discarded cushions. They’ll like to know that the house is an organised and clutter-free environment (even if that’s not always the reality!)
Be honest about your home
You can show off all the best features of your home to buyers, but there’s really no substitute for an honest first-hand opinion. Make sure your estate agent understands all the reasons you’ve loved living in the property and why you’re moving e.g. your commute is changing or you need more space.
Equally, tell them about the area’s quirks. For example, the train station is a good walk away, commuters might need their own transport. After all, no property is perfect and chances are they will work out most downsides for themselves by asking around.
Ask an expert…
If you’re looking to sell this summer, speak to one of our property experts. They’ll be able to assess your home and advise on how it can appeal to potential buyers. For a no-obligation appraisal, visit here.
