Maximising your sale price

When you decide the time is right to sell your home, whether you’re looking to downsize or you just fancy a relocation, one of the biggest questions you’ll want the answer to is; ‘how much is my property worth?’. The answer can dramatically impact your next steps and it goes without saying that everyone will want to get as much as they can for their home. 

There tend to be two groups of things that can affect your house valuation, some that are out of your hands and others that you are in full control of. To open your eyes to both, Moovingo have put together a helpful guide to getting the best price for your home so you can consider what is worth doing before you put your home on the market. 

adding-value-to-your-home

Things that are out of your control 

Whilst there isn’t anything you can do about certain aspects, it is beneficial to be aware of them so that you can use them to your advantage for private house sales. The things that can add the most value to your home include:

  • A driveway or dedicated parking space 
  • A garden 
  • The type of property you own (being detached tends to be better than a mid-terrace)
  • The aspect of the property
  • Location within a development 
  • Opportunity to extend
  • Proximity to city centre or nearest town
  • If the property not overlooked
  • Nice neighbours  
  • Good local amenities 
  • Access to public transport 

If you do benefit from any of the above then be sure to use them when advertising the sale of your property! Even if you don’t have all of these things, focus on the ones you do have and make a point of mentioning them.  

Things that are in your control 

Thankfully, there are also lots of things that you can do to increase your property’s value and some of them are much easier than you think! Ultimately, the more effort you put into your home, the more likely you are to achieve a premium price for it. 

  • Structural integrity

Improving structural issues is one of the first things you should do when selling your property in Ireland. Taking the time to sort all nagging issues will prevent any nasty surprises when potential buyers carry out surveys on your home. A few things to specifically look out for are;

  • rising damp
  • a leaking roof
  • rotten timbers
  • bulging walls
  • subsidence or movement issues.

A vendor survey can be obtained. This will highlight any issues and you can take the steps to fix them or supply the survey to potential buyers so they are aware and can factor it in. This will reduce the risk of a sale falling through due to a poor survey.

selling your house tips

  • Interior decoration

In general, having a good declutter and proper tidy up can make a big difference to your valuation and overall sale. Not to mention undertaking an overall deep clean. Don’t forget things like your windows and windowsills, doors and door handles, skirting boards and ceiling coving and also, any outdoor areas like your patio or decking during this deep clean. It is also important to detach yourself from sentimental objects. Buyers love to see a clean, tidy, blank space that they can see themselves making their own.

Modernising certain areas in the home can really help to boost the value of your property. Two main areas to be mindful of when redecorating/modernising are the kitchen and bathroom. . You don’t necessarily need to completely rip out these rooms and start again, but it is worth modernising them. Think about the obvious things such as your kitchen worktops or your shower screen, these are easy and inexpensive to change but can instantly add value. 

  • ‘Kerb Appeal’

We can’t stress how important it is to ensure that the outside of your home looks good. First impressions are everything so the exterior is vital. Give your home’s facade a once over, tidy up your driveway and ensure that any green areas are well looked after. 

  • Choosing when to sell

Like many things, home sales change with the seasons. Springtime typically brings the most buyers because lots of people want to move during the warmer months. The best month to sell a house will differ from year to year and also areas of the country so, do some research into when would be best for you. Remember to take into account your personal life too and make sure this is the right time for you to sell. Take late November and December as two certain times to avoid, as the evenings get darker a lot quicker, the garden won’t be in bloom and buyers are generally focussed on the holidays. Also, any buyer seeking to renew their mortgage generally wait until the new year to do so.

  • Asking Price – Always Be Realistic

It is so important to put your home up for the correct price. If you list it too high then you will simply deter potential buyers and if you list it too low then you may not get as much as you could have done. Make sure that you have more than one house valuation and also keep an eye on comparable properties to see what they are going for. This will help you ensure you are advertising yours at the right price.

 

Adding value to your home 

All in all, using the tips above, you can make a big difference to the overall value of your home. To reiterate what was mentioned above, in the case of property valuation, you get out what you put in. The best Estate Agents in Dublin will confirm that the more effort you put into improving your home, the higher your valuation will be. 

If you would like to book a free valuation of your home with a trustworthy estate agent, visit the Moovingo website, we will be able to arrange this at a convenient time for you. Moovingo is a real Estate Agent rated 5 out of 5 on Google, so you can trust that our valuation will be fair and reliable. Our valuation team are all fully licensed Estate Agents with plenty of experience and can also provide you with tailored advice for adding value to your home, ensuring that you get as much as possible for your property.