When you’re selling a property little details can make a big difference in helping you achieve a great result.
Thankfully, David Marshall, Operations Director with Warners – one of Edinburgh’s and the Lothians’ largest solicitor estate agents – has top tips to help you achieve the highest price for your property.
First of all you should make a great first impression.
“You really don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” says David, “so it’s vital the front of your property looks as welcoming to buyers as possible. If you have a front garden, make sure it’s well looked after and the lawn has been recently trimmed. Using flowers to add a splash of colour can really brighten up the outside of your home.
“Even in winter there are beautiful flowers like carnations and pansies that will brighten things up for potential buyers.”
David also notes that pathways should be free from weeds and bins hidden out of sight before buyers come calling.
David adds: “If your front door or window frames are looking a little worn it’s well worth taking the time to give them a lick of paint or, if you’re not too confident about your DIY skills, spending a few pounds to have someone come out and do it for you.”
Next, if you want the best deal, think “Picture Perfect”.
“The camera might not lie but the wrong photograph can tell a less than flattering story,” says David. “The photographs used to market your property should highlight its main selling points – so be sure you enhance the composition of the photographs by ensuring images show off your home at its best.
“At Warners, we use professional photographers to ensure we showcase your home in its prime to buyers.”
Another one of David’s top tips is to put yourself in your buyers’ shoes.
“Selling a home can be an emotional experience but to get the best price you’ll need to be as dispassionate as possible. Think about who is likely to be interested in your property and what would matter most to them.
“Warners’ team has decades of experience in the property market and will be able to guide you on who is looking for properties like yours and the key things that they’re looking for.”
There’s another small word that can have big impact: declutter.
David points out: “Once you’ve lived somewhere for a few years, you’ll inevitably find you accumulate a lot of stuff. You can hide away lots of belongings by asking a friend to look after them, putting them into storage, or just having a good old fashioned clear out.
“Putting larger, unnecessary items of furniture into storage will also really help to make your home look more spacious and make it easier for potential buyers to picture how the space will look with their own belongings in place.”
Finally, have you thought about freshening up the interior of your property?
“It doesn’t take much to give a property a new lease of life. Freshening up paintwork, shampooing carpets and renewing seals around sinks and baths can really brighten up a home without costing the earth.”
If you’re thinking of selling, Warners offers a free, no-obligation valuation service where one of their local experts will visit you to assess your home’s value and discuss the strategy to get the best result for you. You can contact Warners today on 0131 667 0232 or by email at property@warnersllp.com and one of their team will be delighted to help.
