7 ways to PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME
With an economic downturn looming, there’s no better time to protect your biggest asset. Kirstie’s small steps make a big difference…
1 TAKE IT OUTSIDE
What is outside can be as important as what is inside when it comes to the value of a house. Well-maintained gardens can add value and poorly kept ones can detract from it, so this is a golden opportunity to spruce yours up. Trim hedges, create colourful flowerbeds, clean the patio, add a lick of paint to fences or sheds and make it look beautiful.
2 DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE
One of the most common things that devalues a property is clutter. Go around the house with every member of your household (your partner, kids, whoever you live with) and, if you wouldn’t take something with you when you move, box it up and get rid of it. Be ruthless. Need some inspiration? Watch a bit of Marie Kondo and learn her way. The houses that sell are the ones that are neat and organised.
3 LIGHTEN UP
We had someone on Location, Location, Location recently who had a beautiful property, but it just wouldn’t sell. The reason? It had purple walls. To put it simply, dark, strong colours on walls put potential buyers off. Light is everything so, as a general rule, stick to the palest shades.
4 DUST DOWN
Believe it or not, dust really devalues a home – so get rid of it. Humans are like magpies, they like things that sparkle, so things that are shiny need to be shiny. Get into the habit of dusting, because it takes a bit of time to get used to and you’ll be ahead of the curve when you do want to sell.
5 GIVE UPCYCLING A GO
Most of us have old lamps, chairs and cushions sitting around in our homes that have seen better days. With a bit of creativity, you can turn them into something that adds value to your home. It can be as simple as repainting an old cabinet or reupholstering an unloved chair. A piece of advice: don’t do it half-heartedly.
6 IMPROVE THE LAYOUT
Lack of space (or the appearance of a lack of space) can significantly reduce the appeal of your home. One of the most effective ways to create more space is by changing your layout. Is there a door that could be removed? By creating a more open-plan home, you will have extra space and a more connected house.
7 PROTECT AGAINST DAMP
Damp and mould can be a real problem when it comes to selling, and one of the worst culprits is drying clothes inside. The best solution is to get a washing line, even if it’s strung up on a balcony. If you must dry inside, the key is not to let the room in which you’re drying things get too hot – and make sure it’s well-ventilated.