subject: How to give yourself the best chance of selling your house [print this page] How to give yourself the best chance of selling your house
There are many ways to spruce up your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers and as the market starts to strengthen and grow, it's important to shake off the competition from other sellers in your area by making your home stand out for all the right reasons.
It's all very well tidying up and giving the hallway a lick of paint but think about what you would like to see if you were looking to buy a new house, think about how immense the decision is to part with thousands of pounds and only then will you understand that it's about more than just a new coat of paint.
Aesthetics and soft furnishings are definitely important, they are what turn a house from an empty shell into a beautiful, inviting and warm home that buyers can see themselves living in but the reality of buying a house kicks in on the second viewing and you'll find the noises change from appreciative or disapproving ahs' to in depth questions around potential damp problems, how structurally sound the building is, what the neighbours are like and how secure the property is. Now you can't do much about the neighbours that's true but you'll want to be able to answer those other questions fully and satisfactorily and not be caught out either not knowing your stuff or trying to cover up for your home's misgivings.
Damp problems and other physical issues can be investigated and rectified by having a structural survey done on the property and it's worth doing this before you put your house on the market; it might seem like an expensive outlay but it'll save a lot of heartache in the long run when interest stagnates on first views.
As for security, the best way to address this is to ask your local police station to send an officer to do a free security check, most stations offer this service, especially if you are elderly or vulnerable. They will check the quality and effectiveness of your doors, windows, fences, hedges, lighting and alarm system as well as advising you of sensible safety precautions to take when you're out of the house or on holiday. It is the physical security advice that you should take particular note of when trying to sell your home. Double glazing, composite doors, decent locking systems and alarm system are the four essentials.
Invest in a composite front door with multi-point locking system and the same for your back or side doors and you'll be creating strength where a wooden or UPVC equivalent would be offering a weak point of access. Also look at double glazed windows, security lights and an alarm system, all of which will help to bring down your home insurance as well as act as a major selling point to potential buyers.
Give yourself the best chance of selling your home and buyers a reason to put in an offer by investing in a composite front door and arched French doors where necessary.
