Putting your property in Rugby on the market is a huge step. But, preparing your property for sale can be overwhelming and you may be wondering; "What should I do to my property in Rugby before I sell it?"
We've got eight tips every seller should follow to ensure their home is ready to welcome viewers as soon as it goes on the market.
1. Do a Thorough Declutter
A declutter is essential before you place your property in Rugby on the market. It will make your home look bigger, brighter and more inviting, but it will help you get ahead with the moving process as you'll have less to pack!
The easiest and most thorough way to declutter is to approach each room separately. Empty the entire contents of the room, and split it into three separate piles.
A. Items you adore. These will be joining you in your new home.
B. Items of great quality but not loved by your family anymore. These will be sold, given away, or donated to charity.
C. Items that are no longer useful for anything. These will be taken to your local recycling centre or refuse centre.
2. Clean Rigorously
Quality photography is a key part of our marketing so your home should be sparkling clean in preparation for the best quality photographs to be taken to entice viewers.
Consider renting a carpet cleaning machine to use throughout your home. Additionally, take the opportunity to deep clean the blinds and curtains.
3. Decorate and Depersonalise
Viewers want to look around your property in Rugby and imagine a place their family will enjoy. During their visit, they will visualise how their furniture and belongings will look in each room, which can be challenging if the space is cluttered.
Where necessary, paint the rooms in neutral colours to attract the widest range of viewers. Remove any large family photos and pictures, which can also be distracting for potential buyers.
However, avoid expensive renovations such as kitchens and bathrooms. These will look incredible, but it is unlikely you will recoup the cost when you sell. Significant renovations will certainly make your property more saleable - but not necessarily more valuable!
4. Complete Maintenance Jobs
There are many niggly little things in our homes that we learn to live with! Stained carpets, leaky pipes, unvarnished windowsills, broken tiles. Small things that appear insignificant to you but will be spotted by eagle-eyed viewers!
Showing your home to a potential buyer with these issues unfortunately suggests you have not taken care of the property, which can seriously deter viewers. In such a competitive market, your home needs to do everything it can to stand out.
These small maintenance tasks are usually inexpensive and quick to sort, so dedicate an afternoon to fixing the issues before you put your home on the market.
5. Switch Around the Rooms
You may use certain rooms in a way that works perfectly for your family, but that doesn’t mean it will appeal to prospective buyers.
For example, you might use your dining room as a playroom but this may eliminate older couples with no children or those who don’t plan to start a family soon. Remember, buyers quickly glance through online property listings, so your home must do everything it can to make the best possible first impression.
Try to squeeze in an office space where possible. More people are working from home than ever before, and a dedicated space for a desk will make a huge difference.
6. Set The Scene
Home staging is the process of ensuring your property in Rugby looks its absolute best before the photographs are taken and viewers enter the property. You might decide to set the table, add ambient lighting, or rearrange the furniture to maximise the potential of each space.
Fill rooms with fresh flowers and reed diffusers before viewers arrive to leave the house smelling beautiful.
7. Freshen up the Garden
Outside space is as important as what’s inside the home for most buyers. Therefore, ensuring your garden is in top condition is imperative.
Before weeding the area and mowing the lawn, you should remove any empty plant pots, toys, or general waste. This shows the garden has been cared for throughout your ownership.
Kerb appeal is crucial too, and viewers often make snap decisions based on their first impressions. Therefore, it may also be worthwhile to paint any garden walls or fences, brightening the area.
What Next?
Horts are your local property experts for the Rugby area and can help you understand what to do before selling your property. Call us on 01788 550044 or email rugby@horts.co.uk to request a valuation and find out what you need to do to your Rugby property before you put it on the market.
