For anyone looking to score a quick house sale, the simple fact is that much of the emphasis needs to be on cosmetic appearances rather than any long, drawn out issues that are normally associated with home ownership. When people show up to consider a quick purchase, they will be focused on different things to those who want to sit down, look at the history of the home and go over the finer details for weeks or months. Thankfully, ‘quick sale’ cosmetic work is much less intensive and is cheaper. Here are a few basic pointers to ensure a quicker sale.
Re-Do All Paintwork
Peeling or tired paint says more than it actually means. Whilst the woodwork behind any paintwork might be structurally sound, to any buyer, it tells them that the owner has lost interest in the house. Fascia boards, fencing and garage doors are some of the areas that people pay less attention to than they should, but when they start to look tired, they make the entire house look neglected. A day with a cheap tin of all-weather paint is all that is needed to retain the buyer’s attention as they pull up.
Maintain The Garden
There is nothing worse than showing up at a house and seeing overgrown grass, weeds and neglected flowers and hedges. It gives the impression that the owner has no real interest in making their house presentable, and often goes hand in hand with assumptions about structural damage. Anyone will attest to the fact that a sloping, overgrown tree instantly conjures up images of an eventual roof cave in, or that out of control bamboo has them worried about damage to the garden as a whole. And that’s to say nothing about the appearance of bindweed, which, as well as looking out of place, actually does real, lasting and potentially deadly damage. Keep any gardens and wilderness areas in check and buyers will see a proud homeowner standing in front of them.
Pay Attention To Small Repairs
Again, when a ‘quick sale’ buyer turns up, they can turn a blind eye to a slat missing from the roof, or a piece of skirting board hanging off, but within reason. Small, seemingly inconsiderable damage is OK to an extent, especially when a house is being sold on a speedy basis. But too many outstanding jobs will soon have buyers wondering what is lurking beneath the surface if so much has been allowed to go unfixed. It’s fair to say that small repairs soon start to mount in time and cost if every single one is done, so don’t go overboard on making the house absolutely free of any kind of ‘snags’; remember, this is about a quick sale. Hit the customer facing areas and anything that looks like it may lead to a larger problem, and put any buyer’s fears to rest.
Pay Attention to Smells
This is so often overlooked but is extremely important. Buyers will be using their eyes for the most part, but stepping inside a house that smells of rotten eggs will have people worrying about plumbing or some kind of rot. Similarly, rotting food suggests negligence, and an overall ‘damp smell’ will soon have buyers wanting to get structural beams examined. Pet smells are very stifling and can send buyers packing. We all stop noticing smells in our own home after a while, so get a neutral third party to come in and take a tour, pointing out any unpleasant odors. And be proactive. Brewing up a pot of coffee or cooking a loaf of bread really does make a positive first impression!
The general, overarching point is that, if a quick house sale is sought, expensive and lengthy repairs are impractical and unfeasible. But putting aside some money for ‘surface work’ can mean the difference between a buyer thinking that they’ll need to do some redecorating at best, and thinking they have stepped into a major renovation project and offering far less money, or worse still, walking away entirely. A quick sale still needs minor work, so put in the effort and buyers will remain interested and keen to offer a good price as well as a quick turnaround.
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