Thanks to high inflation, soaring food prices, rising interest rates and insane energy bills, house prices are falling. Month-on-month, they’re down 1.4 per cent, cutting the average asking price to £263,788, significantly below last summer’s peak. Moreover, Halifax predicts home prices could drop as much as 8 per cent next year, bringing average prices back to the £240,000 mark.
Sellers are understandably worried by this news, but this post is here to help. Here, we look at three top tips for selling your home in the current environment. Check them out below.
Improve Energy Efficiency
In 2019, home energy efficiency wasn’t much of a consideration. Energy prices had been stagnant for a decade, and there was little sign of change. Then during the pandemic, they began rising before accelerating further following the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Now, energy efficiency is at the top of buyers’ wish lists.
You want your home to receive the highest energy rating possible from inspectors. Therefore, you’ll need to take a multi-pronged approach to energy efficiency. Common upgrades to consider include:
- Installing solar panels
- Swapping out your old windows and doors for new ones with double-glazing
- Adding draught-proofing around your windows
- Filling cavity walls with effective insulation
- Adding roof and loft insulation (or increasing its thickness if yours is old)
- Checking your roof and loft insulation offers sufficient coverage
- Insulating your floors
- Improving the energy efficiency of your heating system by upgrading your boiler or installing a heat pump
Add Value
2023 will be a buyer’s market. Hence, it will pay to be ruthlessly competitive. You’ll want to give your home any advantage it can get.
When assessing your home’s value, don’t look at the overall price trend. Each property is different. Instead, look for ways to add value.
Some Estate agents recommend putting properties on the market at the lower end of the range that they can achieve. We like to think that adding value gives you more of a competitive edge, your potential will want to get as much for their money as possible.
Do everything you need to do to be more competitive. Improve your kitchen, fix your garden, and sort out your landscaping issues. A lick of paint, inside and out. Deal with anything that might turn buyers off, such as broken locks or creaky floorboards. Make sure they have nothing to complain about, or bargain with.
Improve Your Photography
Dull photos of messy rooms won’t sell your property. You need pictures that will help potential buyers to ‘see’ themselves living there.
In today’s world of social media savvy buyers, the imagery and presentation of your property is of paramount importance. Todays buyers expect to see high quality photos AND videos presented on platforms that are used throughout their daily lives, such as Facebook and Instagram.
Presenting properties for sale in such a modern and dynamic manner is where we excel. Speak to us about showcasing your property to give you a competitive edge and vastly improve your sale potential.
