Selling your house is incredibly stressful, but a common mistake could be knocking thousands off your asking price. The average UK house price fell by 0.2 per cent in the year leading up to February, lessening from a decrease of 1.3 per cent in the period leading up to January. So, those lucky enough to be on the property ladder may already be unhappy with their valuation – especially if you bought when house prices were sky high.
However, seven-figure entrepreneur and author Liv Conlon has warned of a ‘silent thief’ which will decrease your house value even further. Luckily, it’s easy to avoid with a few simple practices.
The 25-year-old is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers, which furnishes over 300 homes a year to increase their appeal to potential buyers. The mum-of-one warns you should never neglect your maintenance, even with the smallest of issues.
“Picture this: a prospective buyer steps onto your property, greeted by overgrown shrubbery, cracked pathways, and chipped paint on the exterior walls,” the expert said.
“Instantly, the charm of your home diminishes, and with it, its perceived value. Neglecting routine maintenance tasks not only detracts from your home’s curb appeal but also signals potential underlying issues to savvy buyers.”
Liv says this extends to the interior too, warning that “scuffed paintwork, peeling wallpaper, and worn-out flooring’ can all ‘snowball into major deterrents for potential buyers”. Neglecting these simple tasks can also lead to costly repairs which again, decreases the value of the house.
The solution to this is of course regularly maintaining your property and staying on top of those small DIY tasks rather than putting them off.
Liv recommends investing in a landscaper to ‘keep your garden well-manicured’ and says it’s wise to allocate a ‘portion of your budget’ for upkeep.
“By prioritizing maintenance, you not only preserve your home’s value but also enhance its appeal to discerning buyers,” she added.
The expert says in the meantime, furnishing a home can help hide some of its less desirable features – such as placing a large rug over scratched flooring or hanging artwork over marks on the wall. She says this ‘detracts potential buyers eyes’ from nitpicking every single small issue’.
