If your property has been on the market for a while, you may be starting to give up hope that it will ever be sold.
Don't despair as help as it at hand. Here are seven top tips to help not only get your property sold, but for the best possible price.
The house-moving process is undoubtedly stressful, so it's important to know what could add value to your home and what might detract or even completely put off potential buyers.
Some of the changes that homeowners make to a property can be less attractive to buyers than they think.
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Before you start marketing your home, it's worth taking stock and make any necessary alterations to give you the best change of securing your asking price.
1. Over personalisation
Modestly-decorated homes are most desirable to buyers, according to estate agents.
It means preparing your house for sale might require redecorating if your personal taste is particularly colourful or bold - and consequently unlikely to appeal to the majority of buyers.
Buyers need to see how their own belongings would fit into the space, and how they could make it their own home.
2. Condition of property
Evidence of damp, cracks in the walls, a roof in poor condition, an old boiler and single-glazed window can all have an impact on how much buyers are willing to spend.
If a property is not in good condition, it will limit the number of interested buyers as there will be some people who only want somewhere that is ready to move into.
This can be for a host of reasons, be it they don't have the time to spend addressing the issues or they may not have the money needed to be spent fixing them.
3. Bad presentation
Making sure your property for sale is presented in its best possible light is key if you are going to get the value you want out of it.
Everything should be clean, clutter tidied away, and any outstanding DIY jobs should be finished.
A home has a greater chance of selling quickly if it smells fresh and is clean.
4. Swimming pools
Having a swimming pool might seem like an attractive addition to a property, especially for friends and family who visit during the summer.
However, they can be an issue when it comes to selling your home.
This is because they can be expensive to maintain, use up a lot of space and in many parts of the country can't be used all that often.
As such, if your property for sale has a swimming pool, it may be worth consider filling it in.
Alternatively, if the swimming pool is in good condition, it may be beneficial to sell during the summer when you can show it off when it is looking at its best in warmer weather.
5. Planning permission and building regulations
Any extensions or conversions to your property will have required the appropriate planning permission and building regulations.
Make sure you have these documents available to reassure buyers that the work was carried out properly.
6. Darkened rooms
Graphite grey may be the one of the most popular colours in interior design but it may not be so effective when it comes to selling your home.
Nine times out of time a bright and airy property will be worth more than a dark and dingy one.
But it is not only about the paint colours as overcrowded bushes and trees close to the windows, frosted glass windows or netted curtains can have the same effect of making a property feel less spacious than it really is.
7. Japanese knotweed
The two words "Japanese knotweed" can set off alarm bells among clued-up homebuyers around the world.
In the UK, the invasive plant has cost millions of pounds worth of damage to homes by attacking the foundations. It doesn't set seed in New Zealand but councils urge Kiwis to be vigilant.
- Daily Mail and other reporters
