With space to work from home becoming more important to house hunters and the Stamp Duty Holiday potentially saving buyers thousands, now is a great time to look for a new home or put yours on the market.
For anyone looking to make a move before Christmas, SoGlos spoke to Gloucestershire-based Naylor Powell for some expert advice on making your home more saleable this autumn.
About the expert – James Birt from Naylor Powell
Managing director James Birt heads up the team at Naylor Powell, which provides sales, lettings and property management services across its five branches in Cheltenham, Gloucester Docks, Hempsted, Newent and Stonehouse.
With an expert team and outstanding local knowledge, Naylor Powell has been trusted by homeowners across Gloucestershire since 1982.
Is autumn a good time to sell your house?
Autumn is traditionally a great time to sell your home as the summer holidays are over and people are keen to move before Christmas. Gardens are still in bloom after the summer months and homes are feeling cosier.
This autumn will be especially busy as home movers look to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Holiday. With the amount of time it takes for an average sale to complete, home movers should ideally have an offer accepted before the end of December.
What kinds of properties are people looking for at the moment?
Since lockdown, home moving trends in the UK have shifted. Rightmove reported that 76 per cent more buyers are now looking for a place to work from home than the previous year and searches for an annexe have gone up by 88 per cent!
Gardens have seen a massive increase in demand and so have searches for homes in village locations.
All our branches have seen a huge increase in activity across Gloucestershire for all types of property. With apartments in Cheltenham and Gloucester Docks also seeing a large increase in interest.
What features make a property more desirable?
The kitchen remains the heart of the home and the highest on our buyers wish list. A large sociable family kitchen is always going to be popular. En-suite bathrooms are almost a must now and dressing rooms are seeing more of a demand as developers are incorporating these added luxury features to their designs. Gardens or an outside space of some kind remains desirable for our area.
Location is always key – whether you are looking to be close to popular bars and shops or within the catchment area of a school. We are so lucky to live in a county that has so many beautiful and varied places to live.
Good broadband speed has also seen a surge in desirability for house hunters.
Which renovations are most likely to add value to your property?
Market demands are telling us that a space to work from home is important to buyers, so having a spare bedroom, converting a garage or adding a garden room to your home will all add value.
Knocking through a separate kitchen and dining room if the building allows can open the home to make a wonderful space too. Updated kitchens and bathrooms will attract buyers, as these are expensive projects to carry out.
Is the smell of freshly brewed coffee really something that can make your home more saleable? What other easy things can people do to make their home more attractive to buyers?
That’s true. Freshly brewed coffee, baked bread or a nice smelling candle can all make your home more welcoming for a viewer. We have known vendors to leave out freshly baked cakes and juice!
We would also suggest the dreaded ‘declutter’. Clearing surfaces in the kitchen to show the work space or tidying shoes and toys away, so viewers don’t trip over them on the way round the house are all good things to do.
Take a look round the house and if there are any DIY jobs that you keep meaning to get round to such as repairing a broken door, a stain on the carpet or tidying up the garden, get those jobs done before your home goes on the market. It might sound trivial, but fresh sealant round the bath or shower cubicle can make all the difference!
