How to raise the value of a flat or house at little cost… part 1

When selling a flat or house, we want to get the highest possible price. That is understandable. To this end we often enlist the help of an estate agent. This is a very good move, as an experienced agent will negotiate the best price for us. But what can we do ourselves? There are many effective and at the same time inexpensive ways of raising the value of a property. Get to know them all.

Time for a thorough clean

Cleaning, if we do it ourselves, costs us not so much money as energy and time. Every room needs to be cleaned thoroughly, from the cellar to the loft if we live in a house. With a flat the matter is easier, although here too there may be additional spaces such as a garage or cellar. Remember not to skip them.

While cleaning, pay attention to every detail. It may determine a potential buyer's overall impression of the property. You surely do not want to lose one because of an unwashed wall or a stained carpet, do you?

Freshening up the walls

The next step, a natural extension of the cleaning process, is freshening up the walls. Depending on what is on them, appropriate care measures should be taken. If it is wallpaper, it is worth washing it, provided that is possible. If the walls are painted, refreshing the colour is a good idea. In this way we will not only remove dirt that is hard to clean, but also give the interior a new, fresh character.

Refreshing the floors

Renovating floors is a bigger expense, but sometimes it is worth it, especially if the floors in our house or flat leave a lot to be desired. Worn, scuffed and scratched laminate panels will certainly impress no one and may cause the price of the property to be lowered, which we surely would not want. We do not necessarily have to replace the whole floor at once; sometimes replacing individual boards or using restoration products is enough.

If, on the other hand, the flat has carpeting and rugs instead of laminate panels or tiles, they will need to be cleaned. While you are at it, it is also worth cleaning the furniture upholstery. Thanks to this, armchairs, sofas and chairs will look newer than they really are, and this will translate into a more positive overall impression of the flat.

Throw out what you do not need

During a thorough tidy-up, a considerable number of things to throw away will certainly pile up. And we are not talking only about rubbish. It is worth getting rid of everything that has not been used for a long time, does not work or does not look very attractive. Remember that an overly cluttered space will put off potential buyers. So do everything you can to get rid of unnecessary junk.

Refreshing the furniture

Before we let viewers into the flat, it is also worth taking a look at the condition of our furniture. As we mentioned earlier, the upholstery of sofas, armchairs and chairs is worth cleaning. Other furniture, such as tables, kitchen worktops, wardrobes, cabinets and shelving units, should be examined carefully for damage. Any scratches, discolouration and damaged varnish will not have a favourable effect on the overall image of the property. Before the presentation, renovating the furniture may therefore prove a good idea. Some pieces just need painting or covering with an attractive veneer. On others we can replace the handles or hinges. The most important thing is that in the end they look nice.

While you are looking for a buyer for the property, it is also worth considering rearranging the furniture. This will bring new energy into the interior and freshen it up.

That is not all you can do to raise the value of your property at little cost. You will read about the other methods in the next article.