Five Fast Ways To Add Value Before Selling Your Home

Winter’s frosty fingers are beginning to loosen their grip, and for those of us brave enough to venture out into the garden, the signs of spring are there. Green shoots popping up through the loosening soil can mean only one thing: warmer days are on the way.

If you’re thinking of selling your home but are waiting for the spring market to heat up, February is the perfect month to tackle those small but impactful home improvements that can help boost your home’s value. A desirable home is one that buyers will want at all costs, so to avoid giving a viewer bargaining room, look closer at your home and freshen up any areas that may need a slight overhaul.

From refreshing tired kitchen cabinets with a fresh spray of paint to swapping out an old loo seat for a sparkling new one, these easy upgrades will have your home looking its best when it’s time to sell. Here are five simple yet effective ways to add value before the ‘For Sale’ sign goes up. Enjoy!

  1. Give your garden the green light

We’re not suggesting you invite Charlie Dimmock and her Garden Rescue buddies over (maybe save that phone a friend for your forever home), but pulling on your gardening gloves could have a major impact on your home’s appeal to buyers.

If your garden has got a little out of control, winter is the perfect time to re-tame it – even for the most reluctant of gardeners. With most plants dormant at this time of year, it’s much easier to spot and pull out weeds as well as dead head and rake out old growth (generally speaking anything brown and soggy-looking or thin and brittle). Your hour or so’s effort will burn a few calories and the transformation will be instantly visible.

The last fortnight in February is the best time to lay new grass seed on any bald patches, as in theory, the worst of the frosts will have passed – leaving your lawn looking lush and verdant for the estate agent’s photoshoot in spring.

  1. Front door freshen-up

Working our way indoors from out, second on the list is the front door. Research has shown that first impressions take as little as seven seconds to form, and first impressions begin at the door.

Even if you can’t afford the time or cash to replace your front door, there are a number of ways to set the scene for the beauty within and freshen up the threshold on a budget. A thorough wash and wipe down of composite doors to remove any winter grime and cobwebs is a must.

If your door is wooden, then a fresh coat of paint (a Country Life magazine report based on data from estate agents across the country suggests blue sells best particularly for coastal homes, whilst green works well for country cottages and pillar box red for a London town house).

  1. Odd job overhaul

All those jobs you never quite got round to finishing? Now’s the time to tick off that list. Do a walking tour, room-by-room, replacing burnt out light bulbs, and making a note of any peeling paint, dripping taps and squeaky floorboards or doors. Then it’s out with the WD40, spanner and paint brush to rectify those problem areas.

Pay particular attention to bathroom and kitchen tiles: if you can’t bear the thought of replacing old mouldy sealant, it’s time to break out the toothbrush and bleach and get scrubbing. Your elbow grease will be rewarded in the long run.

  1. Pick up the paintbrush

Don’t panic, we’re not suggesting a whole home redecoration! But for those key rooms, a lick of paint really can work wonders – in fact GoCompare research reveals that poor décor is a dealbreaker for 59% of home hunters.

If you only have the time or budget to focus on one room, make it the entrance hall (or whichever room your viewer will first see upon arrival). Opt for a neutral shade of off white, or a natural light grey or beige for a calm and bright arrival.

  1. Bathroom blitz

Bathrooms should be all about hygiene and calm cleanliness. We’ve touched upon regrouting, but there are other, more impactful ways to breathe new life into a bathroom. Shower curtains, not only a breeding ground for bacteria, can quickly date a bathroom, so where possible replace with a glass screen. If this will prove too cost-inefficient or architecturally challenging for the space, buy a new, neutral one pre-viewings. It is also worth upgrading any archaic taps with modern, shiny chrome fittings.

A little effort now can make a big difference when it comes to selling your home in the Spring. By tackling these small but impactful improvements, you’ll not only boost your property’s value but also make it more appealing to potential buyers. So, don’t let the winter months go to waste - grab a paintbrush, fix those niggling issues, and get your home market-ready.

If you’d like more tips on how to prepare your home for sale, stay tuned for more expert advice, or get in touch for personalised recommendations.

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