*Collaborative Post
Demand for houses in the UK market has risen in the past year and remains strong. However, the supply of homes available currently is much lower than the number of hopeful homeowners. Potential buyers are facing long waitlists for viewings, and many are seeing their dream of owning a home this year becoming more and more unlikely.
Fortunately, the current demand for property is good news for those wanting to sell up. As with any supply and demand issue, people are willing to pay more for houses during this sudden flurry of interest. If you’re considering selling your home now or in the future, you may want to look at what you can do to increase the value of your property and make it more appealing to a potential buyer. From addressing structural damage to redecorating the kitchen, there are plenty of things you can do to achieve this. Here, we look at the improvements you can make to add value to your home.
Fix any structural issues
Before a buyer will exchange contracts for a property sale, they will want to get the house inspected by a qualified construction professional to ensure it is safe to inhabit and does not require any major repairs. Serious concerns such as a leaky roof or electrical wiring issues can be enough for a buyer to lower or even retract their offer.
To ensure you get the best price for your house, arrange a property inspection, and take note of any structural issues which need to be repaired. While home improvement is expensive, taking care of any problems now will make it easier to sell your home in the future and get a good price for it too.
Give the kitchen a makeover
If your kitchen’s looking a bit worse for wear, it’s time to make a change. Old cabinets should be replaced if they’re no longer functional. When choosing new cupboards for your DIY kitchen, opt for classic materials which appear timeless, like wood with a coat of varnish to make them shine. Avoid anything extremely trendy or non-neutral colours. No one wants to go through all the stress of buying a new home and then spend hours sanding and repainting because they hate the lime-green cabinets.
All kitchens need a fresh lick of paint. Choose soft, neutral colours in light shades, like off-white or cream. Not only are these colours unoffensive but painting a room in lighter tones can make it appear bigger and brighter.
Redecorate your home
A buyer is more likely to opt for a house which needs little work doing to it, including minimal redecoration. Ensure all the rooms around the house are freshly painted. Choose light, neutral colours for permanent fixtures such as walls, ceilings and carpets, to make it more appealing to potential buyers.
If you want to introduce some colour to your home, scatter cushions, candles and ornaments around the rooms and hang colourful artwork or photographs on the walls. As these are not permanent features, it won’t be much hassle at all to leave the house looking clean and simplistic when you hand over the keys.
Install a new heating system
If you’re dealing with heating issues every winter, consider purchasing a new boiler. While replacing a boiler isn’t cheap, a new one will be much more efficient to run, saving you money on heating bills in the future. Installing a new boiler will also increase the value of your home, as potential buyers will feel confident the heating in the house is reliable and that they won’t be paying unnecessarily high energy bills. Having this peace of mind may make them willing to pay more for your home. If you choose not to replace an old boiler, potential buyers are likely to make lower offers or negotiate your asking price.
