Buy to sell property
With so much competition out there when you’re selling your home, remember that buyers are not just tempted by the internal decoration and style of potential new properties. Today, they’re more than likely to be looking for location, school catchment area, parking facilities and plot size.
We’ve seen the rise and fall of mortgage rates in the last few years, and you cannot predict when you might have the inclination or need to sell and move on. So if you’ve purchased the most saleable home possible, you can bask in the added security that you won’t be trapped in a property pitfall, whatever happens to the market in the medium or longer term.
When it comes to family homes, most buyers aspire to a detached property in a quiet location with a good plot size and at least a single garage. Corner plots, or homes at the end of a cul-de-sac, always go down well, as they usually enjoy slightly larger gardens and more spacious driveways.
Feeling able to allow children to play with neighbourhood friends in a quiet street with minimal traffic and few passers-by is something that most parents long for, and pet owners always prefer to avoid buying on a main road.
Internally, homes with multiple reception rooms are attractive to families with older children, so they can create a second lounge, a dining room or a study area away from the main living space. Versatile accommodation is the most sought after, and as a seller, if you can prove that your home meets your buyer’s needs, you’re well on the way to striking a deal.
Properties with the potential for extension or improvement are also a good buy. Everyone wants to create their own, unique environment but many also hope to add to their accommodation as their family grows or their needs change, quickly adding value to the property as well as increasing living space.
There is a trend for the provision of a second en-suite in new homes, so consider whether there is scope to create an additional bath or shower room in your property – the cost of a little space can be well worth it, and the feature is especially appealing to families with teenagers. They are notorious for hogging the bathroom, and respond much better when allowed the privacy to indulge themselves.
Of course, when you’re not intending to sell you can decorate your home to suit your own personal taste, but when the time comes for your property to be marketed, it’s probably wise to follow the advice of the experts by de-cluttering and investing in a few tins of neutral coloured paint. Offering the buyer a blank canvass enables them to envisage themselves in-situ, and encourages enthusiasm in unleashing their creativity.