With demand for properties high in Watford, and prices still at a premium after the 2021 boom, you might be thinking this is the time to sell. According to Rightmove, sold prices in Watford over the last year were 4% up on the previous year and 7% up on the 2018 peak. Properties in Watford had an overall average price of £442,316 over the last year, with the majority of sales terraced houses.
Regardless of market conditions, your home needs to be presented in the best possible light, to attract good offers and a quick sale – which we think you’ll be looking for.
To help you get ready for selling your Watford home, we’ve put together our essential to-do list for would-be vendors.
The 5 top essentials for selling your Watford home
1. Boost your kerb appeal
We’ve all heard that people make their mind up about a property on first glance – and there’s a lot of truth in that. To give your property’s exterior instant polish you should:
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Check your roof and windows are in good condition.
2. Go for an extreme declutter
We can’t emphasise enough that less is more in your home, so you need to be ruthless about clearing away the clutter. Remember, you’ll need to sort it out anyway for your move, so why not now? Bin or put in storage anything that gets in the way of a clean look:
Move bulky furniture into storage – it will make your rooms appear more spacious
Don’t ram it all into cupboards or the garage – buyers will want to look inside
Put away or get rid of items on the kitchen worktop – buyers want a clean look
Remove any personal stuff – children’s artwork, certificates, photographs etc.
3. Sort out the stinks
Whether from pets, bad drains or cooking, smells can be a real turn off and need to be tackled.
Air your house well in the run up to a viewing
If you can send your pets on a holiday while you sell, this can help, otherwise keep them clean and wash their bedding regularly
Don’t cook smelly food the day before viewings
Invest in quality diffusers and room sprays – citrus scents are good
Wash your sheets regularly and always open bedroom windows
Tackle any issues with your drains which are creating smells.
4. Up your energy efficiency
With energy bills soaring and the environment a real concern for many buyers, the once-ignored energy performance certificate (EPC) rating is coming into its own. As buyers cotton on to the fact that energy efficiency = cheaper bills they will ask.
Swap standard bulbs for LEDs
Insulate your loft
Add draft excluders to draft doors and windows if you can’t replace them
Check the recommendations of your EPC for any more fixes.
4. Clean till it shines
Your home needs to be immaculate throughout. Give it a thorough clean then keep it that way by topping up daily. There are plenty of online cleaning guides to help:
Get carpets professionally cleaned or hire a machine
Don’t ignore the oven and fridge
Attend to any mould in the bathroom
Get rid of any limescale.
5. Fix all the broken things
Give every room a reality check, noting down all the snags and breakages that detract from a feel of polish, things to focus on include:
Give tired and dirty paintwork a fresh coat – and replace dark colours with light natural ones
Replace mouldy bath sealant
Replace cracked or broken tiles
Fix wobbling door handles
Replace a mouldy shower curtain – maybe with a quality screen.
Thinking bigger?
While common wisdom says bathrooms and kitchens sell houses, in reality they are time consuming and won’t necessarily make a big difference to the sale price. Things like extensions and loft conversions really add value but are unrealistic if you want to sell in a few months. Instead consider repainting or replacing the doors on your kitchen cabinets for a fresh look and replacing threadbare carpets.
If there’s anything odd about your layout – you use a bedroom as a sitting room, for example, try and return it to its original function, so buyers will understand how to use the space. Since lockdown, works areas are important, so be careful to show where your buyer could create a home office environment.
Need more help
If you’re thinking of selling your Watford home, we’d love to advise you about maximising its appeal. Give us a call today to talk about our approach to selling your home and for a no-obligation appraisal.
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David Clayton
Claytons blog was created to give light hearted but hopefully useful property related thoughts and advice.
David started his career at former family firm, Weller Hill Hubble aged 17. The company was later purchased by General Accident property services and David went on to become their youngest ever manager and Area Director. However, disenchanted with corporate life he decided to return to his old roots and start a personal, service driven Estate agency. In 1991 Claytons was born and has grown into one of Watfords most well known and successful businesses. Outside of work David , who still lives locally is married with 3 children and a cockapoo called Teddy.
