How to make your home more saleable this summer

With outside space and garden rooms high on buyer’s wish lists, we share our top tips on making your home more saleable this summer.  Demand for properties in Gloucestershire is still high, with house hunters looking for gardens, somewhere to work from home, and bright, airy open plan spaces in particular.

What’s happening in the Gloucestershire property market at the moment?

The Gloucestershire property market is still extremely busy. There is a shortage of properties for sale and many purchasers still looking for homes in our region. The impending stamp duty deadlines are making an impact too.

The same can be said for the lettings industry where all types of properties are attracting huge interest and letting very quickly.

Is summer a good time to put your property on the market?

Summer is an excellent time to sell or let your home. Gardens are looking glorious and the longer days make property tours a lot easier for the client to view the house properly.

Visitor numbers are extremely high on property portals and our high street branches are also seeing an increase in visitors as people are spending more time outside. Events in Gloucester Quays, which we are delighted to see back again, bring huge footfall to the area and to our window.

The hive of activity during the summer tends to ease slightly during August when the schools break up and more people are on holiday, then we expect, as usual, to see a peak again during September.

Are properties with gardens more likely to sell during the summer months?

The market demands for properties with outside space has increased since the first lockdown took place in 2020. People are more aware of how they spend their time at home with many deciding that a small or very large outside space is high on their wish list.

We try where possible to include the garden in our virtual tours, which gives the viewer a chance to see the full property both inside and out before the physical viewing takes place.

What kind of features are buyers looking for in a home and garden during summer?

As we mentioned, outside space of any kind – be it a balcony, courtyard or acreage – is more popular than ever. Bright living spaces are always attractive too as the fashion for open plan living continues, especially amongst families.

Garden rooms which give flexible living accommodation and a designated area to work from home are definite trends we are seeing in 2021 too.

What tips can you give sellers on making the most of their outside space?

A small amount of time tidying your outside space can make a huge impact to potential purchasers. Weeding the footpath to the front door and arranging pots of bright summer flowers can improve the kerb appeal and also make the photographs stand out on the website and brochures.

If you have a patio then dress it with a table or arrange some chairs to demonstrate how the garden can be enjoyed. Broken and falling down fences should be addressed before you put your property on the market too. Even simple, low-cost garden updates can really make a difference to potential purchasers.

For sellers that don’t have outside space, what can they do to make their property more appealing during the summer months?

We sell many apartments throughout the year which do not have any outside space. The apartments offer a huge amount of character in wonderful locations which make them very appealing.

Our Covid guidance is still to open as many windows in the property as possible so this works especially well on those warmer days. Fresh flowers, light colour bed linen and the usual spring clean will also make a big difference. The time in which we choose to take the photographs and video tour of the property to capture the natural light should also be considered.

What advice would you give to anyone considering selling their property now?

Before putting your home on the market is a great time to do those jobs that you keep putting off. Property photography and videography work best when the house is clear of clutter and obstacles which could be moved elsewhere, while the property is on the market. As mentioned previously, declutter the outside space too. Broken play equipment or dead plants are best removed to show your property in its best light.

The market is very busy so make sure you have thought about your next move. If you do not have another property in mind, then take a look around or ask your agent how much properties in your desired area sell for, so you know the budget works for you.

If priced correctly, your property should receive viewing requests early on. Once the property is sold you will be expected to have a solicitor and mortgage advisor in place already – Naylor Powell can offer advice on excellent local firms too.