Your property is arguably your biggest financial asset – so when you come to sell it, there is an obvious desire to get the best possible price.
While many people may now wait until after Christmas to put their home on the market, some careful thought, affordable changes and spot of seasonal DIY may add value to your home as the decorations come down and the New Year approaches.
Latest research (according to a Lloyds Bank survey) reveals that almost half – 44 per cent – of homeowners have completed significant home improvements in the past, or plan to in the future.
A third of respondents said they made changes to their homes to add value, with the average cost of these improvements £4,000.
Of this number, 29 per cent of the total number of homeowners who had carried out work believed that had added between £10,000 and £25,000 to the value of their property.
Su Snaith, head of estate agency at Harrison Murray and The Nottingham, says there are some relatively easy improvements around the home that can add instant value.
“There always seems to be so much going on in the run up to Christmas, and for many people, home improvements are the last thing on their mind.
“However, if you can find some time amidst all the preparations and shopping, planning and carrying out some fairly simple DIY and housekeeping tricks with minimum disruption may have the desired affect of adding value and put you ahead of the game when you come to market your property after Christmas.”
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The 12 tips of Christmas:
1. Spruce up your paintwork with a fresh neutral look throughout.
2. Hire a carpet-cleaning machine for the weekend and give your carpets a deep cleansing shampoo. You may want to leave this until any guests have left.
3. Giving your kitchen a makeover doesn’t have to cost the earth – you can give it a new lease of life by replacing cupboard doors, drawer fronts and worktops. This is far cheaper than a complete kitchen overhaul. The DIY stores often have sales on at this time of year.
4. Similarly, you can spruce up your bathroom cheaply if the sanitary-ware is left in the same position.
5. Replacing the grouting around sinks and baths will give an instant brighter and cleaner look.
6. Make sure the doorbell and smoke alarms are in good working order and replace the batteries if necessary.
7. DIY enthusiasts could sand original floorboards and either paint them or stain them; hiring a sander is not very expensive.
8. With windows, focus on replacing any broken panes and repairing the frames. Repaint them then add new draught seals to improve energy efficiency and reduce noise pollution.
9. Updating light fittings is pretty easy and may even give a whole new look to a room. Adding in energy saving light bulbs will save cash too.
10. Don’t overlook the garage – statistics show that 55 per cent of us don’t use the garage to park the car in. Try and keep it tidy and store all items on shelves to give an impression of space rather than clutter.
11. It may not be typical gardening weather, but whatever the season it is important to show off your outdoor space. Make sure all tools and toys are packed away out of sight. A few colourful potted containers will help to cheer up the wintry outdoors.
12. Last but not least, be prepared when your agent arranges a viewing. Tidy up as best you can and get ready to show off your home to its true potential … and wait for that all-important offer!
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