Countdown to Christmas – selling your home before the festive season kicks in

WITH the best of the summer behind us, thoughts will soon start to turn to the darker, colder nights and the countdown to Christmas.

For those considering a house sale, or for whom it has become a necessity for one reason or another, it is widely accepted that September is the latest that a property can be placed on the market to have a realistic chance of a completion before the festive season.

There is also a belief that there has been a shift in the market and properties aren’t flying out of the door as quickly, or for the values, that were witnessed at the start of the year.

Therefore, for those planning to sell, they might well ask what they can do to unlock the true potential of their home and in doing so make it as marketable as possible.

The good news is that the market in and around Stroud is still faring well and in fact during the first six months of this year, we saw local prices rise by an average of 10 per cent and the number of properties on the market increase by around 30 per cent.

So if you’re planning to sell your house in the coming months, you can take the advice of TV makeover shows and slap on a fresh lick of paint (magnolia, of course), but there are a other tricks of the trade that you might want to consider – and have some fun whilst you’re at it:

* Give your garden some TLC – planting a tree helps to make a garden look more attractive, whilst resurfacing your driveway or garden path can similarly improve your property’s curb appeal

* Turn your hand to illusion – in order to demonstrate your home’s full potential to prospective purchasers, there’s no harm in employing some careful trickery: the inclusion of a mirror on the wall of a narrow hallway will give the appearance of a larger, lighter space, whilst replacing heavy drapes at your windows with lighter curtains or blinds can similarly bring more light in to your home

* That said, if you think there is scope for an extension to your property but it’s not something you’re in a position to undertake, applying for planning permission with which your property can be marketed can add to the perceived value of your home

* Refresh the heart of your home – it’s no secret that many purchasers place a lot of value on the kitchen, but if budgets are tight and you don’t relish a full kitchen replacement that you’re not going to enjoy, then simply replacing existing doors and handles in a contemporary, neutral finish will appeal to more viewers.

Likewise modernising your light switches will help create a well-decorated and cared for look.

Whilst adopting some of these tips will help you move towards increasing the perceived value of your property, if you’re serious about achieving a sale in the coming months, at a price you’re happy with then you should seek a professional valuation and the Andrews team here in Stroud would be delighted to support you in this.

You could also use our handy tool - http://www.andrewsonline.co.uk/how-much-is-my-home-worth/sale/valuation - to find out how much value could be unlocked in your home.