We can hardly believe it either, but there are just 23 days left until December 25th.
As often happens, you may be struggling to think of gift ideas, but have you thought that your house could maybe also do with some TLC at this time?
This is especially true if you're planning to sell in the New Year.
We've put our santa thinking caps on to come up with 10 gift ideas for your home that will really help when you show it.
New faucets - Tired looking, leaky faucets are often a source of concern when buyers visit a home. It's said that for every problem buyers see, they anticipate that there's probably another 10 lurking somewhere around the home. Here's one simple upgrade to help keep those suspicions in check.
New carpets/curtains/blinds - Your furniture will most likely be moving with you. The same cannot usually be said for items like carpets, curtains and blinds. This can be a real plus if they're in great condition, or very counterproductive if not. If you're trying to achieve top dollar with your home sale (and, let's face it, who isn't), don't overlook one of the most noticeable negatives when it comes to showing your home.
New paint - If your rooms are looking dull and there are paint chips everywhere, you'd do well to give your home the gift of a fresh coat of paint. And if you're going to be away from work during the holidays it's a great time to get started on this project, especially if you plan to list in January. Remember that neutral colors work best, so don't miss the opportunity to redecorate that purple kids bedroom.
New light bulbs/switches - A cheap fix, if ever there was one. Your viewers will definitely be trying these out so make sure that those seeds of doubt about more serious faults aren't given a voice by lights or switches that don't function as they should.
A storage unit hire contract - Clutter is an absolute no-no when it comes to showing your home. If you can't bear to be without all your stuff when you move, why not hire a storage unit to at least get it out of the way of buyers, most of whom will not be able to see the potential of rooms if they cannot see past the clutter, according to statistics. You'll then have clean looking rooms that look as spacious as possible.
An HVAC system service - Servicing your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems is something that you should be doing annually. If you have yet to do so this year, don't leave things to chance and get a full service done asap. The last thing you want is for some sort of failure to happen when someone is about to view. And once you get an offer, you don't want any problems to be identified during the subsequent formal home inspection, possibly putting the sale in jeopardy or forcing you to make some sort of price accommodation.
Lawn care products - Don't let a poorly cared for lawn compromise your showings from the moment the buyer drives up to your home. And if you don't fancy doing this yourself, why not hire a professional to do so?
A coffee machine - The smell of fresh coffee creates a wonderful welcoming aroma in your home. Even if you're not a coffee drinker, it's a great, modestly priced, little scene setter.
Framed art - It's never a good idea to have lots of pictures of you and your family around the house, as that tends to make it harder for buyers to visualize the home as their own. If your walls are going to look bare without them, why not invest in some framed art that's complementary to the home, but not outrageous or surreal in any way.
A new welcome mat - Do we need to say more!
Our key motivation behind suggesting these ideas is that, if you're anticipating a home sale early in 2017, you should be planning ahead so that you are ready to receive viewers in the best manner possible. We are happy to offer advice on any aspect of presenting your home for sale, so why not contact us today.
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