Member Article

Experts Advice: Selling your House

With spring well underway and summer the most popular time to sell a house, many of us are turning our thoughts to cleaning those cobwebs away, touching up that paintwork and getting our properties in tip top shape before putting it on the market.

Here, the team at Hathersage estate agency Eadon Lockwood and Riddle share their expertise on how to make your house someone else’s dream home.

De-clutter

As much as everyone loves having their sentimental trinkets out, it makes it difficult for buyers to see beyond your personal details. Someone looking to buy your home wants to imagine it with their own personal ornaments adorning the fireplace, or filling the window sill.

ELR’s resident expert Tim Venn said: “Don’t completely rid your home of its personality, but stash away anything that is starting to take up too much space. You can always fetch everything back out again when you’re settled in your new home!”

Complete any outstanding DIY jobs

We’ve all had a leaky tap that could have been tightened sooner, or a bit of grouting to touch up. However, when you want to get your house sold as quickly as possible it’s best to get these little jobs done before you start showing people round. Buyers take comfort in seeing a home that is all ready to go.

Tim said: “It can seem like a real chore, but the difference it can make on first impressions is quite significant.”

Set the right impression with your front door

The front door is the first thing a potential home owner sees of a property and therefore always make sure it’s well presented and giving off the right vibe.

Tim said: “People looking to buy a new house will often take a drive around the local area they are interested in and search for sale signs.

“The front door is really the first insight they have into a property, so something as simple as giving it a lick of paint, or upgrading your door knocker, can often dictate whether they will book in for a viewing.”

Tidy the garden

One of the most common requirements buyers stipulate when buying a property is that it must have a garden – and for many people house hunting at this time of year they have dreams of enjoying BBQ’s with loved ones in their very own outdoor haven.

A little weeding, planting a few colourful flowers here and there, and staying on top of the mowing, can help potential buyers visualise how they will use the space in nice weather.

Established in 1840, ELR is a family run business with a diverse portfolio of some of the best properties in the region. The Hathersage branch was opened in 1986, and in 2013 ELR also opened a Bakewell office – expanding its Derbyshire reach for homebuyers looking to make a move.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Simmons .