Spring is a busy time in both the property sales and lettings sectors. If you’re selling a property or are looking for new tenants at this time of year, this spring clean checklist will ensure that your home appeals to all guests…
Online estate agent eMoov.co.uk has highlighted which spring cleaning jobs to tackle first based on the importance placed by prospective buyers. The agent surveyed UK homeowners and asked them to rank six property features on their importance when making a good first impression:
- Interior rooms, walls and ceilings
Despite the exterior of the property being the first thing a buyer/tenant will see, the interior was ranked the most important aspect of the home and should be the first place you tick off your spring clean checklist.
Jobs such as making sure the property is de-cluttered, filling any holes in the walls, stripping or repainting the walls, and generally having a good clean took president over any other feature of a property.
- Exterior walls and roof
Once the inside is looking its best, the exterior of the home was the second most important factor when making a good first impression amongst viewers.
Make sure that the roof doesn’t have any leaks, the walls are showing no cracks and the grouting is smooth.
- The front door and porch
The front door and porch are the gateway to the property and are often the first things a potential buyer/tenant sees up close.
Ensure there are no old shoes or bikes cluttering the porch, strip any peeling paint and give the door a fresh lick of paint, as well as making sure it doesn’t stick.
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The Home Seller/Landlord Spring Clean Checklist
Windows and window sills
Although they are only small features, windows and window sills were ranked the fourth most important aspect of a property.
The quality and appearance of windows can play a huge role in showcasing your home, so make sure there are no cracks, they have all been well cleaned, peeling paint has been removed and a fresh coat applied.
- The garden
The garden can often be neglected throughout the winter, so bringing it back to its full potential is the fifth point on your spring clean checklist.
As with the interior of the home, remove all clutter and rubbish, mow the lawn and trim the hedges to showcase the full size of your outdoor space. Repair any loose or broken fence panels or paving stones, and give them a good clean.
- The driveway and garage
The driveway and garage were voted the least most important factors for potential homebuyers. They can be big, time-consuming jobs, so leaving them till last can better help manage your time.
These external features are more of a bonus rather than a necessity, so buyers/tenants will view them with varying degrees of importance. Knowing they have space for a car or additional storage is more important than the state of those areas.
The Founder and CEO of eMoov, Russell Quirk, comments: “This research goes to show that first impressions do count, but where housing is concerned, the initial judgement of the exterior comes second to the internal appearance of a property.
“Where buyers are concerned, it would seem they prefer to be underwhelmed by the outside of a property and pleasantly surprised by the inside rooms, rather than visa versa.”
He explains: “It makes sense as, when we look to move house, the internal rooms are the places we will actually be spending our time. You are immediately sat within them and so, if they aren’t up to scratch, it can be a put-off. But if there are aspects of the exterior you aren’t necessarily keen on, then not only can these always be changed, but you have a bit more breathing room in terms of settling in and unpacking before tackling them.
“A buyer will always view through their own personal lens, and there will be plenty of things they will change, but providing them with a solid, clean, neutral foundation can go a long way in securing a sale.”
Quirk continues: “It is interesting to see that the small details, such as the front door, the windows and window sills rank much higher than larger areas such as the garden and driveway. Again, it is these little touches that can stand out to a buyer and make all the difference to your sale.
“My wife has been on at me for a few weeks now to get our kitchen ready along with a few other jobs, so it is getting to that time of year when these things come to the forefront and buyer activity in the market also starts to heighten. Hopefully, this checklist will help the UK’s sellers prioritise appropriately when deciding which area to tackle first and aid them in making a sale.”
