The Property Ladder: What Factors can make your House more Sellable?

When it’s time to sell your house, you’ll want to attract the best possible price in the quickest possible time. Yet life on the property ladder, as many people will be acutely aware, isn’t straightforward.

With a bit of smart thinking, however, you can do more to make your home an attractive prospect in the eyes of buyers. Here’s what you need to consider:

The price is right

First up, it’s crucial to set the right price for your property. You might well be proud of your home and you’ll clearly want to get as much for it as possible but setting the price too high is not going to help your chances of attracting a sale. That’s especially the case in an era in which most people conduct property searches online and set an upper limit to their enquiries. Set your valuation too high and you’re unlikely to come up in the search results of the people in your section of the market. Spend plenty of time researching the market to assess what makes a fair price for your property to avoid a long and fruitless wait for a sale.

Fix what you can

When people come to look around your house they have a short time in which to get an impression of the property. Don’t let them walk away with a negative in their heads by failing to fix something obvious. A leaky tap, loose cupboard or unsteady step up to your door are all easily fixed and need to be tackled before you place your property on the market.

Not too personal

When you’re selling a property, you’re not just selling a building. You are, in fact, selling an idea to the buyer – the idea that they could see themselves living in your house. As a result, you want to give them the best possible chance to visualise how they would arrange the home to meet their needs and tastes. You can help them do that by removing items that make your home look too personal, for example taking down family portraits or things such as artwork and posters. Some people even choose to redecorate in neutral tones to assist this.

Plenty of storage

Having somewhere to store your possessions is an important consideration for buyers. Not all homes are blessed with enough rooms or storage options and this can hold you back. This is where a spacious shed can really make the difference.

Well staged...and tidy

House staging used to be the preserve of the rich and famous but that’s no longer the case. As well as removing personal items, you could stage your home effectively with some small touches such as scented candles and air fresheners but, above all, keeping your home clean and tidy, plumping up your cushions and making your beds all ensure that you are showcasing your home in its best shape.  This guide from HGTV offers you some more home staging secrets to try.

Get all of this in order and you’ll give yourself a better chance of securing the sale you want, setting you free to move up the property ladder and on to your next home.