January, 2023
New year, new adventures!
With the increase in utility bills and cost of living uncertainty, more people are thinking about their next move. The property market is still very robust with statistics out from Rightmove suggesting more rises in house prices hitting the open market.
So, do you sell your home now, or wait?
The market has changed from the frenzies of 2022, where demand outweighed supply. It is becoming more of a buyer’s market than a seller’s market. This means it is more important now more than ever to ensure your home is ready and marketed correctly.
Here are some of my top tips to help you get your home ready for sale in 2023:
Choose your estate agent now and make sure they take photographs of your home as soon as possible, ideally on a sunny day (although this is England after all).
Check your estate agents’ listings to make sure they put in a lot of effort to sell each home. I have come across some really poor listings before, and this is key to ensuring a successful house sale in 2023.
Having checks on your home before you sell it could be the difference between selling your home or not!
Although some of these are not a legal requirement, it does always put the buyer at ease and prevents potential “dropouts”.
This could include a certificate for your wood burner, up-to-date electrical certificates, gas safe certificates, planning permissions, building regulation signoffs, information about ownership of boundary walls and documents related to access and rights of way.
With interest rate uncertainty, securing a competitive multi-year, fixed-rate mortgage in principle now makes sense. Speak to an independent, whole of market, mortgage broker to get the best deal for you.
This is a key issue for buyers, with more buyers wanting to see a home’s EPC.
If you want to boost the appeal and price of your home, ensure it has double glazing, insulation and an up-to-date boiler which has recently been serviced.
There are also solar panels, but these won't add enough value to recover their cost in the short term.
Home Owners Alliance says the kitchen is worth more per square foot than any other room in the house, so it's worth making it look great.
Spend some time refacing the cabinets and smartening up the walls and floor.
But don't fit a new kitchen — you won't recover the cost if you sell soon and an installation hitch could derail plans.
Try not to pay too much attention to any one house price index, but look at the overall trend and be prepared to set a competitive asking price.
Many estate agents say an asking price at the lower end of your expectations will encourage rival buyers to bid against each other, which is good news for any seller.
And an overly ambitious price may see the home stuck on the market for too long with little to no interest.
If your interior is looking a little dated in style, then redecorate in line with current trends.
Neutralise your home, declutter and depersonalise where possible to give your buyers a blank canvass so they are able to see themselves living in your home.
Bold colours or bright carpets could potentially put buyers off.
Most gardens look sad in January, but you can still do things with your outdoor spaces to try and spruce it up.
Creating light inside your home is important, especially during the winter months. Ensure you have lamps on in the darker rooms to give them a bigger feel.
Swap any halogen lights for LED lights as this will reduce your energy spend and make your home more efficient.
It’s so easy to get into the mindset of “I am selling my home, I can’t be bothered to fix the boiler” however if you do want the best price for your home, it is best to get these sorted before you put it on the market. If it is something that is going to stay in the property, this issue could come up later down the line in a survey report and could prolong the sales process further.
HS Homes of Solihull is a small independent estate agent based in Shirley, Solihull. If you are interested to know what your home is worth, call us on 0121 430 4448. Alternatively, click here to book a free market appraisal.
