MAKE FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT IN YOUR FAVOUR
07 November 2016
AUTUMN is a lovely time of year in Scotland, with so many vibrant colours in the countryside, gardens and local parks.
But it is also a season when properties warrant some TLC – especially if you are planning a sale any time soon.
At the Tayside Solicitors Property Centre, the autumn months are traditionally a lively period when it comes to buying and selling.
So experienced Centre manager Lynne Hill has some valuable tips for presenting homes with winter looming, ensuring they catch the eye of potential purchasers.
She said: “One of the more common mistakes we find sellers make is doing their best to tidy-up the house in advance of it going onto the market, only to ignore or pay lip service to the exterior.
“Having lived in a home for any length of time, you become used to your surroundings and might not even register an unsightly shed, peeling paintwork or plantlife thriving in the guttering.
“But sellers really should bear in mind that the exterior of a home can be just as important as the interior when it comes to securing a sale.
“Survey after survey down the years confirms the importance of first impressions. So if the first thing a potential buyer sees is a neglected garden, paint flaking off a front door or other signs of neglect, it could put them off and there may be no way back.
“But there are some simple, basic and inexpensive steps you can take to make sure viewers are impressed before they even walk through your front door.
“At this time of year give the garden some attention. Clear-up the leaves, do some weeding, trim back a hedge or take other simple measures to make it presentable. Why not take a pressure washer to decking grime or patio moss?
“As a priority, make sure broken pipes or guttering are repaired and exterior paintwork is up to scratch because buyers want to see signs that a property has been cared for.
“If you have a rear entrance or garden, remember that will also come under scrutiny, so keep the wheelie bins neat and in order.
“In Dundee and smaller towns in the region our member firms handle the sale of many flatted properties. If you share a communal entry or close, make sure any security intercom is working and pick-up any junk mail left lying around.
“As I say, first impressions really do count when it comes to selling a home.”