What are the cheapest things we can do to add value to our property?

[schneebly]

Thanks

It needs everything done really but we cant afford to spend too much on it and want to get a decent price when we sall. TIA.

Clean, fresh paint - will transform a tired looking house to a fresh looking one imo.

Tidy garden

Tidy up the outside at the front (& back if you have time/energy)

Kitchen and bathroom always the best investments as those are seen as the most troublesome rooms to sort out when buying so I'd concentrate on those areas - if you can afford to.

You can get very cheap basic white suites these days and if you tile in white with a patterned border and then add accessories to match, that can make a bathroom look very smart on a small budget.

Also, how are the kitchen cupboards in current kitchen? If in good condition, you could just replace the doors for a complete new look.....lick of paint....

Hope this helps?

get friends and family to store lots of clutter for you. make sure the bathroom adn kitchen look super clean and fresh.

Clean, uncluttered, no carpet in bathroom.

Get professional cleaners if need be as they'll do the job in one day.

No money to change the bathroom - no prob - have it empty and sparkling.

Garden tidy - grass cut. Clean shiney windows with clean curtains.

Point out if close to schools, shops, transport - find a unique selling point.

put as much as you can into storage

pack away all toys (we sold our 'family' house to a couple with no intention of having kids - bit of a surprise to us)

white paint throughout - no borders etc

Get a priorities list of work you would ideally do, some jobs may not cost as much as you fear and at least you can tell the viewers (ie replacement windows). Do finish anything that is half done or untidy though. It is about saleability as much as extra ££ , no point in holding out for a little more if it takes 6 months longer to sell than your neighbour's, costing extra mortgage payments, council tax commission etc and meanwhile prices rise.

Neutralise - you may not need to change the kitchen or bathroom itself but fresh light paint, less clutter, shiny taps and mirrors and unfussy, clean windows can go a long way.

Kerb appeal - first impressions count so keep lawn and beds neat, path swept and use hanging baskets and containers for colour. Cheap fresh flowers indoors too (Lidl or market ones) , especially on a window sill or table facing into the garden.

Quick hoover , dusting and clearing of surfaces and coffee table (hide under sofa cushions) can give an appearance of order before a viewing. Get some disposable floor wipes to freshen up lino or floor tiles in kitchen and bathroom (dries quickly !).

Try to organise viewings without your children or pets present, less distracting and crowded.

hth

Clear all clutter.
Paint every wall a plain, light colour.
Sand wooden floorbards if you can.

sorry for starting this and disappearing - I got visitors! Thank you so much for your help everone - really great!

We had our house on the market for 4 months, and it wasn't selling. I read a few articles on the channel 4 website, and after that did the following things:
1: painted over the mould in the bathroom
2: completely decluttered and depersonalised the house. This meant clearing all the extra stuff (DDs toys etc) and putting them in the car (!), completely clearing the surfaces in the kitchen. You need to let them imagine their own stuff in their, apparently.

Anyway the first time we showed the house after we did this we got an asking price offer!

Have a look at this site, it's got loads of tips. Look here

Good luck!

ooh thank you!

All good ideas, but also, get an estate agent round (or two) and ask them to point out what the biggest obstacles to selling are. They'll have the local knowledge, and they want to sell your house!

And the answer may also be nothing much. We've been looking for a house recently, and one agent said to me that un-done-up houses go for only a very little less, as people where we are want to put their own mark on them - but that very much depends on your area.

But definitely de-clutter, makes a vast difference, and costs nothing!