Even amidst rising property prices and talks of shortages, a recent survey found that 69% of househunters were more likely to make an offer on a clean and well-maintained property – and this is just a small drop in an ocean of evidence showing that first impressions really do matter.
However, it takes more than a lick of paint and a tidy lounge to win people over these days. Well-executed decoration and renovation are a sign of a well-kept property, and therefore a crucial way to extract maximum value from your home.
Here are our top tips for creating the right impression on your visitors and would-be buyers.Well-groomed gardens
Keeping gardens neat and tidy, particularly after spring growth spurts, is an important part of presenting an ordered and well-maintained home. You can also add character and style to your green spaces with carefully chosen ornaments, features and usable spaces.
Decking, conservatories, garden room and exterior offices are all on-trend in 2014, and expanding your living space into outdoor areas exudes an air of openness. However, it's still sensible to avoid high-maintenance additions like swimming pools, which have high running costs and are limited to use in the height of summer. The portal to your home
Front doors are perhaps the most neglected of property fittings. And yet the main entrance to the home is the first thing any visitor will see. Matching your door design to the period and architectural style of your home is a surprisingly important part of an overall first impression. It acts as a window into your personality, which creates a more welcoming feel for guests as they wait on your doorstep.
Colours send a big message to passers-by too. According to colour expert Kate Smith, red doors suggest owners aren't afraid to hold people's attention, white doors are a sign of a neat and tidy personality, and purple paint reveals the owners as 'free spirits'.Windy windows
Tatty frames and cracked panes are signs of a poorly kept home. Worse still, they raise concerns over energy efficiency, which is an increasingly important factor in the attractiveness of a home to potential buyers, not to mention eco-aware friends and families.
Products like Everest Elite windows are increasingly being offered as a response to the demand for choice when it comes to upgrading windows; offering a range of options including replicas of traditional timber joints and sash window frames, all with the option of double glazed windows. Paths, pavements and driveways
Most people think of roads and paths as the preserve of the local council, but a good host, or diligent seller, is wise to ensure that their driveways and access paths are well-maintained.
In terms of sale prices, off-street parking can add between 5-10% to a home's value, but when welcoming guests or potential buyers, their ease of access is perhaps even more important. Uneven and overgrown paths aren't just unsightly, they are a health hazard. So make sure seasonal weeding is kept under control and remember to resurface when lumps arise. These can also be a sign of subsidence, so staying on top of the maintenance is a crucial way to ensure the long-term stability of your home.Visit Everest reviews to find out more about double and triple glazing and see what Everest customers have to say about their new windows and doors.
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