Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud – who knows a thing or two about houses – says one of the most important things to do to increase your home’s value is to look at your house not as your own, but as a blank canvas for someone else’s story. And in order to do that, he suggests being utterly ruthless and following these top tips for a maximum sale price.
Declutter your house – properly
When buyers come to look around your house, they will look everywhere – including inside storage spaces, so be prepared for that. “Make sure, when someone opens your cupboards or drawers, they’re not crammed full of stuff, because that will suggest that the house has no storage and is too small,” he advises. “But if they open the cupboard and see 15 items, beautifully folded on the shelves, they’ll think, ‘I could fit in, and if I live here, I will live this lifestyle’.
Make your home sparkle
“Clean the house – thoroughly,” says the designer, writer and TV presenter. “Clean the carpets, and refresh the walls, too. You don’t need to repaint them, you can take a white kitchen scourer and a bucket of mild soapy water, and gently buff the surface of any scuff marks and clean the paintwork.”
Clean the windows
McCloud insists sparkly glass will make the house look brighter and more beautiful, and will increase the amount of light in the house.
Spruce up the garden
“Do something with the garden,” he says. “Tidy it up, remove any clutter, add a few plants to any beds that need them, and add some greenery to a widow box. It will cast beautiful shadows and give the impression of the outside being connected to the inside, making the house feel larger.”
Source: s1homes Lanarkshire May 2018