Making Improvements to Your Home

There are a number of areas in your home that you might need to take a good look at before putting your house on the market. Many buyers are put off by a property that they feel would need a lot of time and money spending on it after they move in.

The major areas to review are:

Walls & Ceilings

• Paint in neutral colours such as white, cream or magnolia
• Remove or disguise artex ceilings or special paint effects
• Avoid putting up expensive wallpaper - it makes a very personal design statement, and won't add value

Floors

• Carpets should be in neutral colours and in good condition
• Replace any worn carpets
• Replace any carpets in offensive colours or patterns
• Consider replacing carpets with seagrass matting as a good inexpensive floor covering
• Polished wooden floors are a good selling point
• Ceramic tiles, marble and stone are excellent for kitchens and bathrooms

Woodwork

• Touch up or repaint shabby woodwork and replace cheap and nasty door handles

Windows

• Repaint wooden frames if needed
• Make sure windows are sparkling clean and not blocked by furniture or clutter
• Consider removing curtains and fitting plain blinds to maximise the light, although conversely, good curtains can highlight a beautiful window

Lighting

• Subtle lighting can be used to highlight the finest points of a room and hide flaws
• Installing a high-tech lighting system in an up-market property usually adds value and may secure a sale