How to make your property more appealing to potential buyers

When a homeowner puts their property on the market they want it to sell fast, especially if they have already chosen a new build home to move to that better suits their needs. Living in a home that is for sale and keeping it ready for viewers can cause a headache.

However, there are some things that would-be sellers can do to make their property more attractive to potential buyers, helping it sell faster. There are also positive attributes that they should draw attention to when advertising their home.

Here are a few of the key things that make a property more attractive to potential buyers.

Warmth

Central heating and double glazing were the two most-cited ‘must-have’ features in a recent survey [1] commissioned by Gocompare.com Mortgages, with 79% and 74% of homebuyers listing them.

Cavity wall insulation and a good energy rating also made the list, with 47% and 50% of buyers respectively naming them as deal-breakers, highlighting that a warm and energy efficient home is a real priority.

Sellers can make the most of this by ensuring their home appears warm and snug to viewers, especially if they are marketing it during the winter months.

Gocompare.com’s mortgages spokesperson, Matt Sanders, said: “From our research it’s clear that today’s potential homebuyers are putting practical concerns ahead of aesthetics.  They are looking for warm, cosy properties, which are energy efficient and well connected to modern amenities rather than ones that are full of character.”

Of course, sellers who are moving on to a newly built David Wilson home can be confident they are moving to a highly efficient and warm property. Our homes are typically 50% cheaper to run each year than the equivalent Victorian house and 65% more efficient [2]. This is because we use the latest building techniques, including excellent insulation and heat reflective, low emissive technology.

Community

Also high on the list of must-haves were local shops and amenities (55%) and friendly neighbours (54%). It may not be possible to ensure a Waitrose opens close by (if one does, it can add almost £40,000 to the value of a home [3]), however a seller can ensure their viewers are aware of what’s available nearby.

As well as ensuring that their estate agent lists nearby amenities such as supermarkets on the sales information, a seller may also choose to tell potential buyers about the neighbourhood and to highlight the friendliness of the neighbours and sense of community.

When a buyer looks around a David Wilson home, the sales office will have undertaken significant research and be able to provide a wealth of information on the area and amenities.

Media

Today’s hyper-connected individuals want hyper-connected homes, with access to a reliable broadband connection, a good mobile phone signal and a good TV signal all being listed as important to around half of the Gocompare.com respondents.

Again, it’s worth drawing attention to a home’s media capabilities if they are good enough to be a strong selling point.

Space

Potential buyers want to see a property at its best and that means a home where not every shelf, nook and cranny is crammed with possessions. Decluttering a home and putting any unnecessary items into the loft or even into storage allows viewers to see the full potential and shows off all the available space.

However, the Homeowners Alliance [4] advises against depersonalising a property by taking everything out, advising: “Don’t make it look like a generic hotel; leave some personality. Apart from anything else it gives unimaginative buyers suggestions as to what they might do.”

Certainly looking around a well-dressed home can provide inspiration to viewers. Buyers of new David Wilson homes often gain inspiration from our beautifully decorated show homes, which highlight exactly what residents can do to dress their new homes to best effect.

Baths

Many modern homes have showers fitted and no bathtub, as this provides extra space in the home’s smallest rooms. However, when it comes to selling a home, a bathtub can be a deal breaker, with 57% [5] of potential buyers listing it as a must-have.

Whether it is because they have small children or just that they enjoy a relaxing soak, this is clearly not an item many people are willing to wait and install at a later date so it’s worth looking into fitting one before placing a property on the market.

David Wilson Homes’ developments are modern but also spacious, so movers can enjoy far more space and comfort in their next home, with space for a good-sized tub.

Ease

Much of the advice around preparing a home for sale includes taking care of any minor improvements needed, such as painting shoddy walls and carrying out any repairs needed.

For example, the Homeowners Alliance suggests that painting walls in a neutral colour makes the rooms appear larger and that it is easier for viewers to imagine how they would decorate and personalise the property if it was their own.

“Make any minor repairs necessary,” they advise, “holes in walls, broken door knobs, cracked tiles, torn or threadbare carpets. Many buyers want to move in without making changes, so allow for this.”

Of course, households who are buying a new home following their sale do not need to worry about any cosmetic work or fixes being carried out before they get the keys. Newly built homes are constructed to a high standard and even include the chance to select the finishing touches before the property is even built.

That means buyers will move into a home that doesn’t require any time consuming DIY projects. That should more than compensate for any last-minute upgrading needed on the old house.

Use the search bar below to find a David Wilson development near you and take a break from showing buyers around your own home by coming to view one of our stylish show homes.

[1] source: www.gocompare.com

[2] source: www.hbf.co.uk

[3] source: www.lloydsbankinggroup.com

[4] source: hoa.org.uk/

[5] source: www.gocompare.com