boydens.co.uk 13 News 5 Home Hacks to Help a House Sell While some experts expected the housing market to slow once the Government’s stamp duty holiday expired at the end of September, housing indexes and estate agents are indicating that demand for homes that are meeting buyers’ biggest priorities remains high. Research by internet service provider Zen Internet has revealed five key ways to increase the saleability of a home in a post-pandemic world, based on new insights into what housebuyers are looking for. For those selling, it could help homeowners achieve beyond the current 7.4 per cent increase in average house prices and get the top end of their asking price. Steve Warburton from zen.co.uk observes: “It is clear that the housing market is continuing to boom, with buyer demand rising to more than double pre-pandemic levels, according to Rightmove.” He adds that it had been predicted that more houses would have been sold in 2021 than at any time in the past 14 years. “Yet, despite demand and a shortage of houses on the market in some areas, our research has revealed that buyers are not willing to compromise on finding a house that meets big trends in certain ‘needs’.” 1. Showcase your homeworking space Even if this means putting some other furniture in storage for a while – or create a home office in a spare room. Over a quarter (27 per cent) of homebuyers surveyed cited the need for a property more suited to long-term home working as the reason to buy a new home, with a further nine per cent wanting a home office due to Covid. Clear out the clutter, create a Zoom-worthy backdrop, dress the windows to get the lighting right and showcase how you have space for all of the office essentials. If your desk and office furniture was purchased specifically to suit that area, you might want to consider including it in the price of the sale. 2. Spruce up the garden Gardens are higher on the priority list than ever before. The research shows that homebuyers are searching for more space and gardens, many moving away from urban areas because they no longer need to be near an office or commute route. Don’t rely on your buyer’s imagination to sell them your outdoor space Gardens are as much an entertaining space as kitchens and dining rooms, so think about dressing your patio area with tables, chairs, lights and an outdoor heater to really show off its potential. Even a good tidy up will work wonders and don’t forget your front garden either – poor kerb appeal has been shown to knock up to five per cent off a house price. 3. Highlight hi-tech Broadband connectivity has quickly become a crucial dealbreaker for homebuyers. A massive 75 per cent of house hunters surveyed would NOT buy a home if they knew that the internet connectivity was poor; and three quarters surveyed are more inclined to buy a house that’s fully fibre-enabled! Do your homework in terms of what broadband speeds your home either gets or can get – and include this in the sales pitch when you are showing viewers around. And get rid of unsightly wires – homes full of ugly daisy-chained extension cables to power tech are a no-no. Even if you need to get in an electrician for a day to tidy up, investing in smart sockets in key areas of your home could significantly increase its appeal. At the very least, unplug any non-essentials and hide them during viewings! 4. Channel your inner interior designer A high-impact revamp can be achieved with a new rug to instantly make a floor feel new and inviting; if your carpet is looking a bit tired and worn, give it a new lease of life with a rug (that can also be used to hide a multitude of sins). A new doormat is also a great idea for making an all-important first impression. Freshen up walls with on-trend colours that are shown to have a positive mood enhancing effect. Just remember – if you are going to get the paintbrush out then stick with a colour that is relatively neutral and not in any way polarising. Bring in plants – don’t underestimate the power greenery has to bring your home’s décor to life. Adding potted or hanging plants to a room quickly transforms the environment from stale to vibrant. And you can then take these with you after you’ve achieved the sale. 5. Phone a friend! Ask a friend to come and check out your space to identify anything that you have overlooked that might put a buyer off. For example, while a buyer will want to feel that a home is loved and lived in, they also need to picture themselves in the space. You could therefore look to remove some family pictures and children’s artwork and replace them with neutral prints, hide away toys and clutter – young professionals might not picture children in their near future, so make sure they aren’t put off by a playroom or excessive children’s toys.
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