Get rid of the TV… and 9 more tricks to sell your home for THOUSANDS more
YOU don't have to spend a fortune refurbishing every room to make your home stand out to potential buyers.
There are plenty of easy tweaks that will give your property the wow factor and help you sell it for thousands of pounds more.
Luxury London estate agent Daniel Cobb revealed to the simple touches you can make to boost your home's value and make sure that you get an offer quickly.
"There are a few relatively small things home-owners can do to prepare their house for sale, which can make a big difference to both the asking price and the time it takes to receive an offer," the agency said.
With some advice from the pros, plus a few of our own tips, we've put together a list of tricks you can do that will impress viewers.
1. Hide the TV
Stash the TV in the attic and you will be amazed how much more spacious your living room seems.
Do the same with large items of furniture and the whole space will feel much more open and appealing.
2. Create a warm welcome
Make sure your hallway is clear from bikes, coats, shoes and pushchairs to ensure it's as open and welcoming as possible.
After all it's the first thing your buyers will see when they walk through the door so it's vital to create the right first impression
3. Plump up your pillows
Use a karate chop movement to plump up your scatter cushions and pillows.
Freshly-ironed bed linen will give your bedrooms a boost and don't go for anything too garish.
4. Put out fresh towels
There are few things more off-putting to potential buyers than grotty bathrooms.
Make sure that you have de-scaled the taps and freshened up the grouting.
Even though the would-be buyers viewing your home (hopefully) won't be using your towels, make sure that they are clean and fluffy.
5. Use brighter bulbs
Great lighting is a must. Use bright bulbs and plenty of them.
Give your windows a proper clean inside and out to make the most of natural light.
6. Clear your photos away
You want your potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves living there, so keep personal photos to a minimum.
But at the same time you don't want it to feel like an IKEA showroom so the odd picture here and there is fine.
7. Flower power
Fresh blooms will bring your home to life and add a touch of colour.
A bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter is another welcoming touch.
8. Keep it neutral
Give your walls a fresh lick of paint in a neutral shade that will allow buyers to imagine their own dream decor.
There's no accounting for taste, so anything too imposing might deter buyers with a more low-key style.
9. Deep clean
Scrub your house from top to bottom, paying attention to the skirting boards and any scuffs on the walls.
Make sure there aren't any lingering bad odours by disinfecting the bins.
Home improvement that could add up value to your home
TV star Sarah Beeny knows a thing or two about property, and she claims that making certain improvements to a home can add up to 20 per cent to the value of a home.Here are her tips
- Add space: Spend £30,000 and add up to £44,000 in value
- Modernise your kitchen – spend £2,000 and add £11,00 in value
- Neaten up outside – spend £1,500 and add £4,400 in value
- Get painting – spend £100 and £4,400 in value
- Modernise your bathroom- spend £1,500 and add £6,600 in value
While you are going through the house keep an eye out for any odd jobs that you may have forgotten to fix, like wobbly door knobs.
Clear away any remaining clutter like children's toys and pet's bowls.
10. Don't forget the outside
Tidy up your garden, making sure that the lawn is mowed and hedges are trimmed. Plant some bright flowers in your front garden and give the front door a fresh coat of paint.
Getting the asking price on your home can be a challenge - but not as much of a challenge as it can be for first time buyers.
Kylie Petitt, 29, bought her one-bed flat in Woolwich for £210,000 in 2016, but admits she often misses the flexibility and freedom that her friends who still rent have.
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But it's not the same for everyone. One young couple lived on a diet of beans and noodles while they saved to buy their first home before they turned 21, and never regretted it.
One London lad bought a £135,000 three-bed house with his girlfriend at just 18 - but he made one big sacrifice.
Some banks are starting to offer alternatives, such as "no deposit" mortgages to customers in order to help them get on the property ladder.
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