Top 5 improvements to make before putting your property on the market for sale.

Well presented properties gain more buyer interest and receive offers quicker than properties that are less visually appealing to potential buyers. Quite often the changes that a seller can make prove to be fairly inexpensive and only cost a fraction of the value that the works will add to the property.

There are some obvious quick-fixes that take little more than a trip to the hardware store and a weekend’s work, such as decluttering and spring cleaning, but the real money can be made by investing in some slightly more involved improvements. In this article we look at five of the best…

Decorating

Forget personal preferences and redecorate with a neutral palette that will not only avoid putting buyers off, but will give a luxurious feel to your home.  We suggest focusing on your master bedroom and main living space, as these are the rooms that often sell a property. Aim to use two complimentary colours in each room and avoid bland colours (white/magnolia) and garish tones (orange, lime, deep purple etc). We suggest taking inspiration from a property that we recently sold in Streatham SW16 where the vendor used earthy neutrals on the main feature wall of each room, complimented by a lighter shade of the same colour on the other three walls. The Dulux colour mixing range offers a great selection of colours and we challenge anyone to tell the difference between ‘Rum Caramel 4’ and Farrow & Ball’s top selling ‘Elephant’s Breathe’!  Cost: Budget £250 + materials per average sized room.

Period Features

Period properties are appealing to buyers for their curb-appeal, but there is often disappointment once inside to find that the interior period features have disappeared without trace. Inject some character back into your property by adding a feature fireplace in the reception room or installing cornicing in the lounge and bedrooms.  Cost: A Victorian style fireplace and surround could start from as little as £600; for cornicing expect around £400 for an average size bedroom.

Carpets & Flooring

Nothing beats the feel of new carpet under foot and replacing old carpet in bedrooms is a quick way to give your property a real lift. We recommend ‘Supreme Feelings’ in ‘Alpine Stone’ from Carpetright as it feels very luxurious and goes with most neutral paint colours. Cost: Assuming you already have underlay and grippers you are looking at about £250 for a 3m x 4m room.

Internal Doors

Old, cheap and flimsy internal doors can make your home feel somewhat unloved. Invest in new oak doors finished in a natural varnish and your room will come to life. We recommend Internal Doors UK for the 4-panel oak Shaker. Cost: Around £90 per door, £30 for new hinges and handles, and an hour’s labour to fit.

Garden

Take a trip to B&Q and stock up on some pots, planters and hanging baskets. Even the most uninspiring of back patios can be brought to life with a dozen or so colourful blooms.  Cost: Around £200 should be enough to liven up a small patio garden.

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Popping the Asking Price Bubble

Where in the Uk Can Buyers Snap Up Property Bargains and Where Properties Go for a Premium Above Asking Price   New research from fast selling property company, Upstix has uncovered the UK’s most surprising postcodes for snapping up a property at bargain prices this year, highlighting a widening gap between sellers’ expectations and the…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Highest demand to lease office space since pre-pandemic

The latest insights from the UK’s number one commercial property website Rightmove, reveals that the number of unique enquiries to lease office space is at its highest point since pre-pandemic, as businesses look for spaces that meet modern requirements. Demand to lease office space is 19% higher than the same period a year ago and…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Estate Agent Talk

Planning consultations for major infrastructure to be streamlined

Robert Bruce, a planning and infrastructure partner at law firm Freeths LLP, said he: “Welcomed the change as a significant step to speeding up the DCO process and the focus on the quality and effectiveness of the consultation, rather than box ticking and a risk averse approach to pre-application consultation due to the current legal…
Read More
Breaking News

‘The property ladder pulls further away’ warns Open Property Group

For many first-time buyers across England, the dream of homeownership continues to slip further out of reach. Despite rising wages, soaring house prices are making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder. A leading UK professional house buying company ‘Open Property Group’ based in Buckinghamshire UK, has raised concerns over the ongoing…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

How Long It Takes to Buy a House in the UK: 5 Common Delays That Can Slow Down Your Home Purchase

Wondering how long it takes to buy a house in the UK? The average timeline ranges from 8 to 22 weeks, but even that can stretch significantly due to unexpected delays, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or caught in a chain. That’s why working with experienced professionals like Belvoir — one of the UK’s…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove to host Renters’ Rights Bill webinar with Guild of Lettings

Rightmove is hosting a live and interactive webinar session with the Guild of Lettings to help agents get Renters’ Rights Ready. The webinar will take place from 10:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd April. Susie Crolla, Managing Director for the Guild of Lettings, will be joining Rightmove to help agents with questions they may have about…
Read More