So you’re ready to sell your home this year – it’s an exciting time, and while your agent will help do the hard work for you, there are of course a number of things to consider before you make your next move.
We’ve listed a few things to think about before putting your house on the market – and as always, our experienced team at Clarendons are on hand to answer any questions you may have.
Is it financially viable?
While the housing market is buoyant, depending on the move you are making – selling up, downsizing, sideways move or a bigger property, there are always going to be finances to consider. We suggest speaking to your financial advisor or mortgage advisor (where relevant) in the lead up to putting your own home on the market. This will give you peace of mind and confidence that you can financially afford the next move and that you are in the best shape money wise.
How will it affect your life?
As already mentioned, affordability and financial responsibilities come into this, but given that a house move is one of the biggest things you will do, you have to ensure it’s the right time for you and your family.
It can also be an extremely emotional time to given all of the changes. Why not write down a list of the things you really want to achieve from the house move and this will help everything become clear.
For example, are you moving from the city to a more rural location and are you prepared for the slow-down in pace? Do you have school age children to consider? Does the property you want to move to need a lot of TLC or repairs and do you have the time and funds to do so?
Is your property fit to go on the market?
Once you’ve made the decision to put your house up for sale then you have to make sure it’s ready to go on the market and primed to achieve the best price. Here are a few tips we recommend:
- You want kerb appeal for potential buyers who will not only check your property out online but also drive past for a sneak peek. Take a look outside to see if you need to tidy up any paint work, guttering and garden clearance.
- Declutter - before you have professional photos taken, be sure to declutter rooms which contain lots of personal items, but still keep that homely feel as buyers want to envisage themselves living there. Also, the less you have in each room will make it look much larger and airier and show off the space available.
- If any large renovations need doing be sure to tell your agent and they will advise you if best to complete the work – or at least get a price for it – then you can be up front with potential buyers. Many sellers like to put in new bathrooms or kitchens which can increase the value up to 10%, BUT remember many people want to put their own touch on when they buy, so it’s not a necessity.
If you’re ready to make the move, contact our team at Clarendons today for a free valuation.
