When preparing to sell your property, you don’t need to spend a fortune to entice potential buyers. But what areas are worth investing a bit of TLC in?

We asked our Putney branch sales manager, Gary Howorth, to share his expertise on how to make small improvements to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank.

So, how can you make the most from your property with a modest budget for improvements?

GH: How to maximise what you can get for your home when the time comes to sell, is often the biggest dilemma we come up against. How much do I spend? Where do I start?

“often it is the smallest change that can make the biggest difference”

The danger is that you can spend thousands of pounds making various changes, only for a buyer to walk through and not think much of your choice, and you fail to recoup the money you have spent.

Often the misconception with making property improvements is that you need to spend a lot in order to make any money, but quite often it is the smallest change that can make the biggest difference.

Now don’t get me wrong, a significant upgrade to all parts of your property should increase its value, but when limiting what you intend to do, some very simple changes made on a modest budget can actually help achieve a much better sale price.

How can you make first impressions count?

GH: A bit like any personal encounter, the buyer’s first impression of your property is critical. “Kerb appeal” is vital, so tidying the path and front garden, re-varnishing the fence or repainting windows and facia can be an easy Sunday job that will make a significant difference to how people approach your home, and the mind set they are in as they enter the front door.

If you own a flat, ask yourself how the communal areas are looking. Brightening these areas up with some flowers, air freshener and maybe a carpet clean will present a welcoming feel and give the sense that you are living next door to royalty rather than the Royle family.

What’s worth undergoing a bit of DIY?

GH: Inside your home it is important to look at areas that buyers may see and feel they need to invest in. Check for any old damp marks that you have not gotten round to redecorating, or small scuffs or stains that have accrued over the years. An internal repaint will remedy this and give a fresh feel to the property.

A spring clean throughout is essential, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom. Dig out the rubber gloves and make them spotless; new taps and a new shower head can also help in this regard, as will re-grouting those tiles that have been on your to-do list for months!

How can you make each room look its best?

GH: De-clutter. This is the most painful process for most sellers, but often the most satisfying. Whether you make the most of your storage cupboards, the local car boot fair or tip – you want every room looking as big as possible to maximise the space you are selling.

“Make the buyer feel that there is as little work required as possible”

The idea of this entire process is to make the property look as appealing as possible and make the buyer feel that there is as little work required as possible. Failing that, the impression will be that they can move in, be very happy and do any major works at a later stage.

In presenting your property this way, your valuation should be at the higher end of any price range and any buyer looking at the property will have less reason to want to knock the price down; it is this part that can save you thousands of pounds. The difference in real cost of making these changes versus the perception of the buyer and the resulting offer they make can be significant.

If you’re looking to make a bigger statement or simply looking for some striking interior ideas, then have a browse through our Home Inspiration page.

Or if this has made you curious about the value of your own home, why not chat to one of our property specialists?

Ready to sell?

Instruct Foxtons to market your property for sale, and we’ll build you a winning property ad. A professional property photographer with the latest technology will capture your property’s most marketable qualities, like the photos from Foxtons Specialist Photography featured throughout this article. This way, buyers who look at your ad can picture themselves in their future home.

You’re craving a conservatory for your plants. You dream of knocking down the wall that blocks out natural light. You saw them in a cooking show, and now you can’t stop picturing granite countertops…

Everyone has a list of things they’d love to do with their homes, but is the cost and hassle of renovating really worth it? Since your home is also your investment, it might be more worthwhile than you realise.

“How much is my house worth?”

Foxtons local experts can help you find the value of your property in the current market.

The numbers

Royal London, a mutual insurer, published a study on the benefits of renovating. They surveyed UK home owners on how much they would spend on their next home if it had certain improvements, to discover which renovations add the most value to a home.

The highest value addition was a modern kitchen, which increased the property price by £11,160 (based on the average UK house price of £274,615). The second most valuable addition was a modern bathroom, increasing the property value by £10,915.

Other worthy additions were:

• Loft Conversion: £10,845
• Spare bedroom: £10,744
• New boiler/heating system: £9,647

Potentially increasing the value of your investment by £11,000 is a pretty good reason to have your tea in the sitting room for a few weeks. In fact, according to Royal London’s survey, selling the property was the second biggest reason homeowners chose to renovate (just behind the need for more space for oneself or partner).

Ready for anything: selling or otherwise

While your long-term goal may be to sell, you might not be ready to move just yet. That’s great; renovating and selling a home both have a huge impact on your daily routines and schedules. If you renovate and get it valued now, you can see where you are in your investment and make your plan for a future sale.
Also, be sure to book a valuation before you start the project, so you know where your efforts will pay off. Do it for you.

Royal London’s study is dazzling with its big, rewarding numbers, but every renovation project is unique. How much your project influences your asking price depends on how well the renovation is done, what trends are people looking for, your buyer’s style, etc.

So, if you’re renovating to sell, you might find yourself asking, “why did we wait until we’re ready to move to do this?” It’s good to keep the benefits to your property value in mind – especially when everything is coated in sawdust – but you might also want to think about how much enjoyment you will get out of the renovated space.

What will the neighbours think?

Have you noticed how, once one homeowner starts a renovation, projects start cropping up all over the neighbourhood? It’s not just coincidence. Another big reason people start work on their homes is because of their neighbours, especially in London, which is where the higher number of respondents did home improvements because of neighbours projects (according to Royal London’s survey). So, maybe you’re not just be increasing your home’s value, maybe you’re inspiring the the whole block.

A beautiful reward

Throughout this blog, you’ve seen gorgeous interiors from the Foxtons Photography Team. These professional property photographers have a gift for highlighting a home’s best features. If you do choose to sell after you’ve renovated, our photographers will ensure your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

Exceptional photography is part of our marketing plan, which will put your property in front of the serious buyers most likely to fall in love with it. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through it.

Property valuations are a vital part of the selling and buying process.

The goal is to assess the condition of a property, determine its most attractive features, and estimate its value in today’s market. The expert valuing the property essentially takes on the role of a prospective buyer, looking closely at the pros and cons, and ultimately asserting how much someone will be willing to pay to live there.

Various factors play a part in influencing what a property is worth, including its size, location, condition, proximity to amenities and transport links, and its potential for development.

Obtaining a valuation can sometimes catalyse a homeowner into action, especially if their property ends up being worth more than they thought. A recent study by Zoopla found that almost half (45%) of homeowners undervalue their home by an average of £46,300, which goes some way to showcasing how beneficial an expert valuation can be.

The valuation process

Not all valuations follow the exact same blueprint. The experts conducting the valuation sometimes have their own ways of working, while given that no two properties are exactly the same, there are certain aspects that will be more relevant in some instances than in others. For example, some properties will require land assessments, while others may necessitate detailed calculations to determine its development potential.

There are, however, some general rules of thumb. Most valuations tend to incorporate:

– Internal and external inspections

– Room measurements

– A detailed listing of key features and fittings

– Acknowledgement of the property’s age

– Assessments of the condition/structural integrity of floors, walls and ceilings

– Details of rot/damp/elements that will potentially require professional attention

Depending on the property, a valuation may also take into account the size and quality of gardens/land, whether there is space for vehicles to park, the condition of garages/outbuildings, and the amount of noise that can be heard when inside and outside of the property.

The individual(s) valuing the property may also take pictures, but this is not the case in every instance. More often than not, pictures will only be taken once the homeowner decides that selling the property is the correct choice for them.

Getting ready for a valuation

There are a few things you can do prior to a valuation to ensure that not only is your property seen in the best light, but that the entire valuing process is simple and stress-free for all parties.

The first course of action should be to give the place a tidy. There is no need to go so far as to rent a carpet steamer, for example, but cleaning the kitchen, putting away books/toys, and removing clutter will go a long way to showcasing the property’s size and airiness.

If you are determined to try and quickly bolster the value of your property, there are a number of things you can do to spruce it up and make it more attractive. Painting fences or doors, especially if they are looking tired, can make a real difference, while replacing or repairing plant pots, decking and facades can also have an impact.

For more ideas, see our blog on how to increase the value of your home.

It is also worth gathering together all relevant paperwork. This may not necessarily be required on the day of the valuation, but it makes sense to have everything to hand just in case.

The valuation is a great opportunity to ask questions and get some guidance around selling the property. If there is anything you want to know, be it about the property itself, the market as a whole, or something else entirely, the expert conducting the valuation will either be able to assist, or can help by pointing you in the right direction.

When the valuer visits, take advantage of their expertise by asking them questions, like the ones in our blog: 8 questions almost every seller asks. It may also be helpful to see your house from the view of a buyer. Read our blog on questions to ask a seller when buying a house now, so you can ask your valuer any questions and be prepared for buyers.

Arranging a valuation

Booking in a valuation could not be simpler, you can arrange a free home visit by clicking here.

Arranging a valuation is the first step towards selling your property, and also brings you closer to moving to a home that more precisely aligns with your bespoke needs and requirements.