For those who were about to embark on a dream home search before lockdown, it could be the perfect time to prepare your property plans. While an imminent move might not be possible, this could be the ideal moment to prepare your home for sale and do your research to find that dream future location.
To help eventual homebuyers get prepared for their post-lockdown house-hunting, Fraser Carr, Sales and Marketing Director at Cala Homes North, has revealed a few tips for anyone looking to prepare their current home for the market and the key points to research to enact your dream move at a later date.
The feeling’s neutral
Fraser Carr said: “A home that’s been lived in for years can easily pick up on the personality of its owner, whether it’s through a vibrant colour scheme or a bold choice of wallpaper. However, for those looking to put their home up for sale, a more neutral approach is actually more appealing for potential viewers. By decorating any bold coloured rooms in a more neutral colour palette, your property can enable potential buyers to project their own style onto a blank canvas.”
Declutter and destress
“Sometimes the simplest changes can make the biggest difference. By simply removing knick-knacks, ornaments or unruly furniture that doesn’t make the best use of space in your home, you can create a space which looks roomier and much more streamlined. Creating a route throughout the home with well-placed furniture can help tie rooms together creating a sense of style and contemporary sophistication that potential buyers will find very appealing.”
Gardening is golden
“Although we currently need to take care when outside, it’s perfectly okay to enjoy your garden as long as you can maintain social distancing. Ensuring that your home’s outdoor space is as neat and as tidy as possible is hugely important as sometimes this can be a big selling point for home hunters. By keeping your outdoor space as appealing as you can, you can create a fantastic first impression once it’s possible for your home to go on the market.”
Make a wishlist
“Before you even start to look for your dream home, you need to know exactly what it is you are looking for. Think through all aspects of life in your new home, from the essentials you might need such as a low maintenance garden, a large kitchen space or a certain number of bedrooms, to less pressing but desirable features such as a garage or utility room. By creating a checklist and prioritising, you can minimise your search and be much more focused when it comes to scoping out particular neighbourhoods or styles of home.”
Research, research, research
“As well as knowing what you want from your new home, it’s essential to understand exactly what you would want from the surrounding area. Researching prospective areas that you wish to move to can help narrow your search and can help you ensure you make the decision that’s right for you. Think of the benefits you need from the local area such as being close links to transport, a good range of nearby amenities and within proximity of good schools.”
It’s a numbers game
“It can always seem daunting, even in normal times, to find an affordable way to secure your dream home. However, use this time to figure out your budget and your financial arrangements, while not forgetting any of the fees which might pop up during a move. If you need support, there’s plenty of options in place to help you out, whether it’s speaking to a financial or mortgage advisor or assessing the government schemes available such as the First Home Fund for first time buyers. A popular option with Cala Homes is Part Exchange, which offers an opportunity to reduce the stress of the big move by removing the woes of selling your old home, all handled by a dedicated advisor.”
To find out more about Cala Homes, visit www.Cala.co.uk
