Thinking about moving home this year? Perhaps you’re even considering joining our welcoming retirement living community?
Before you take the next step, it’s important to make sure your current home is ready to shine – and sell. Whether you’re aiming for the highest house valuation possible or just want to have a refresh to make a good impression on potential buyers, these seven simple tips will make all the difference.
Declutter To Maximise Your Space
As we know firsthand from our retirement properties, clear floors and surfaces will help prospective buyers visualise living in the space more clearly. It’s no coincidence that in most interior design images there is very little clutter, so try to keep things minimal – less really is more!
- Start with visible surfaces like countertops, tables and shelving and remove excess paperwork, old newspapers or ornaments that you don’t need.
- Next, get rid of toiletries you won’t use from your bathroom, and the ones you’ll keep in the cupboard.
- The same goes for clothing in your bedroom – make sure washing doesn’t pile up and gets hung away once it’s clean!
- Keep your kitchen worktops clean, and limit the amount of appliances on display to the ones you really use on a daily basis like a toaster, kettle or coffee machine.
You’ll likely need a clear out when you move anyway, so starting now builds good habits for your lovely new retirement property, and gives your home a better chance of selling when the time comes to move.
Depersonalise Your Home
When it comes to getting a house valuation, you will want a prospective buyer to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, not feel like they’re intruding on someone else’s life. To do this, you should temporarily remove family photos, memorabilia, calendars, and even those magnets on the fridge when your property is being viewed.
When a home is more neutral, a buyer is less likely to feel like they are stepping into someone else’s space – think of it as a calm, canvas that invites prospective buyers to image their future.
Once the viewings are finished, or you’ve moved into your new retirement property, your treasured memories and nik-naks can take pride of place again.
Deep Clean Every Inch
A sparkling home sends a clear message: this property has been well looked after. When people come to look around your property, there will be no stone unturned – they will likely open doors, look inside cupboards, check taps, flick light switches and pay attention to the small details – just like we do when we prepare our retirement properties for new residents. In fact, we fully support it! It’s only right that a potential buyer gets to know every aspect of their new home.
Be thorough and deep clean everywhere. Pay special attention to skirting boards, clean behind radiators, and in any cupboards containing equipment such as boilers and electricity metres. The key is to make your home look well-cared for and sets the stage for a positive valuation.
Introduce Neutral Colours
Have you got any brightly coloured walls lingering from the 70s? If you’re considering a house valuation, it’s time for them to go!
Bold colours and feature walls might suit your personal taste, but for a house valuation and prospective buyers, opt for light, neutral colours like white, beige, or soft greys. Not only do these tones offer the potential buyer a blank canvas to visualise, but they’ll also make your home feel lighter, brighter and more open.
Repainting not only modernises your interior, but also offers the opportunity to fix any scuffs, marks or dents in the walls. All of our retirement properties at Santhem Residences in Shenfield, Essex, are finished in a range of elegant neutral tones, allowing each resident to add their own touch of style with ease.
Tidy Up The Exterior
The first thing a house valuation agent or prospective buyer will see is the outside of your home. Boost your kerb appeal with a handful of simple improvements:
- Tidy up aging exterior paintwork
- Repaint tired window frames or fences
- Clean the windows
- Weed flower beds & sweep paths
- Mow the lawn & trim hedges
- Add a couple of pots of seasonal flowers for a welcoming touch
A well kept and neat exterior makes the best first impression!
Make It Smell Good
Just like a popular TV advert says, you can become ‘nose blind’ in your own home: In short, there may be smells in your house that you are used to, but that visitors will pick up on immediately.
To present your home in the best light, make sure that you clean sofas, carpets and curtains where possible, and air out rooms by opening windows daily. If you have pets, make sure they’re cleaned regularly, and their bedding gets washed.
Avoid using overpowering air fresheners that smell strongly of cleaning products. Studies have shown that the classic idea of freshly baked bread and coffee brewing, often suggested for home valuations, are actually distracting. Instead, if you want to add fragrance, consider more neutral scents such as citrus, pine, or vanilla.
Enhance Light and Comfort
A well-lit home feels bigger, brighter and more inviting, which is great for a house valuation too. This is a tip we are familiar with at our retirement living apartments in Shenfield, Essex. Our properties have plenty of wide windows and broad, open spaces.
However, not all homes are so lucky. There are a few things you can do to get as much light as possible into your house:
- Draw-back curtains and blinds
- Switch on lamps in darker corners
- Add large mirrors – they’re great for reflecting light and can make a space feel bigger
It also helps to keep the temperature comfortable: not too hot and not too cold. In the summertime, if your house is very warm, consider closing all curtains and blinds until just before your viewers arrive.
Need Help With Moving?
Does this all sound like too much work? Don’t worry, we have a team of specialists on hand to help. At Santhem, we’ve partnered with Senior Move, experts to offer help with moving, decluttering and downsizing.
If you purchase one of our luxury retirement properties, Senior Move will provide a complimentary consultation to get you started. If you would prefer not to deal with the stress of selling altogether, we also work with an excellent part-exchange partner who can help turn you into a cash buyer, simplify your move, and remove the uncertainty of the property ladder.
If you’re considering buying a retirement property at Santhem Residences, please get in touch. We would love to help make your move smooth, supported and stress-free. Come and visit our Shenfield retirement living community so we can show you around and let you discover what we have to offer.