Has your house been on the market for quite some time now? It can be incredibly frustrating when your home isn’t selling. A million different questions run through your head, and you can’t seem to understand why everyone else’s houses seem to sell quickly and yours won’t. What is wrong with your property? Is there something missing? Is there something bad about the area? Where are you going wrong? Well, maybe we can answer that question. Read on to discover some of the reasons why your home may not be selling.
- Stains and damp patches on the wall or ceilings – There is only one place to begin, and this is with stains and damp patches. No one is going to want to buy your home if they believe that it is suffering from damp. There are many tell tale signs of this, from crumbling plasterwork and stained ceilings to black mould and musty smells. Damp is a serious problem, which can cause health issues. This is why you need to get rid of the problem yourself before attempting to sell your home. This is not the sort of job that new homeowners are going to want to take on themselves.
- You aren’t offering value for money – One of the key reasons why your property may be getting overlooked in favour of other houses is because you are not offering value for money. Use a tax calculator to help you understand what you can afford. Nowadays, buyers want something to sweeten the deal. You need to make your property stand out from all others in the area. There are numerous ways you can do this. The first option is to make home improvements that are going to make your property much more enjoyable to be in while also saving the new homeowners money in the future. House window tinting is a great choice, as it improves the appearance of a property, offers additional privacy, and it also reduces heat, which is great for lowering utility bills. These sorts of improvements will really make your home more appealing, as the buyer feels like they are getting a lot more for their cash and they will be able to make some money back in the future in the form of reduced bills. Another option to offer more value is to throw in a few extra things with the house sale, for example, the big plasma TV you have on the wall in the living room. When going down this route, you need to ensure it is something for the potential buyers to get excited about. Your old kettle isn’t going to do the trick, but all of your stainless steel kitchen appliances might.
- Dark rooms – Dark rooms are a big problem when you are trying to sell a property. This is because they make rooms look smaller, dingy, and unwelcoming. This is the last impression you want to give off when you are trying to sell your home. Of course, some rooms are naturally darker than others, but there are different approaches you can use to lighten them up. Adding a mirror is one of the best options. This makes a room seem a lot bigger and more welcoming, as natural light will bounce off the reflective surface and back into the room. Aside from this, you should repaint the ceiling and the walls in a neutral colour, and keep curtains minimal so that you can let as much light into the room as possible.
- Bad smells – You may think your home smells nice, but your viewers may think differently. When you have lived in somewhere for so long, you get used to the smell of your pets or cigarettes. However, for someone walking into your property for the first time, it is going to hit them like a ton of bricks. You need to ensure that all cat litter trays and cages are clean, clear out any ashtrays, and invest in some nice scents for around the home. From scented candles to diffusers, there are many different ways you can make your home smell luxurious and feel cosy.
- Personalisation – One thing that can really put buyers off is if there is too much personalisation in the home. You may love the endless photographs of your pets and your family, but it makes it difficult for people to imagine themselves living in the house. Instead, they want to view it as a blank canvas, so they can imagine themselves sitting on the sofa and enjoying their favourite TV program, with their own family’s photos on the wall. There is nothing wrong with a bit of personalisation, but it is a good idea to keep it to a minimum so that you can give off more of a showroom vibe.
- An overgrown garden – A lot of people selling their homes do not view an overgrown garden as a big deal. After all, what is the problem? It is easy for the new buyers to fix, and it does not make a difference to the overall space that is available? This may be true, but home viewers want to imagine themselves relaxing in the garden, enjoying the sunshine and having a nice cold drink. How are they going to do this when they have weeds growing up to their waist? Making your garden look neat and inviting can make a massive difference. This is even more so important if your garden is located at the front of your property. This will be the first thing people see when they approach your property, and you know what they say; you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!
If any of the points above sound familiar, you should make the necessary changes to make your home more appealing to prospective buyers. Often, you will find that a few simple changes make a massive difference. It is important to view your property through the eyes of a buyer. What would you look for when searching for a new home? If you are struggling to look at your house objectively, ask some friends or family members you can trust for their honest opinion. Remember, the aim is to create a showroom feel, rather than it looking like your home!
Money-Smart Millennials 