The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has timeously listed some top ways in which homeowners can add value to a property and make it more desirable to potential buyers.
Suggestions, in no particular order, include tidy (or better still, landscape) the garden, combine two rooms into one to make a more inviting open-plan living space, update the kitchen, get rid of ‘busy’ wallpaper (ditto ‘busy’ carpeting), smarten up the front door, convert the loft space, fit energy efficient appliances and double glazing, and in homes without, install a fireplace to create a focal point. Mark Hayward, chief executive at NAEA Propertymark, said: “Faced with a difficult housing market, updating and maintaining a property is more important now than ever for homeowners. Whether you need more space but can’t afford to move, or want to put your house on the market, you should be making the most of what you’ve got.”