Blog

Written by The McCarthy's Team on March 14, 2019

0 Comments     

The weather might still be a bit hit and miss, but an unseasonably warm February and the welcome sight of daffodils blooming are definitely signs that home moving season is upon us!

It’s that time of year when people start to get itchy feet and find themselves day-dreaming of the bigger garden or sun room they could be enjoying by the summer if they found their next dream property. It’s definitely the time to start putting plans in place to get the house looking tip top ready to go onto the market.

So, if you’re thinking this Spring may be the beginning of a fresh start in terms of a new home, here are our top tips for getting your home ready to put on the market.

1. Decluttering is the number one priority. You want people to view your home and see how it would be amply spacious for their family – even if they’re a grand piano player! Of course, that doesn’t mean you need to get rid of everything you own – consider renting some short term self storage so you can move the non-essentials there. You can still get access when you need it, so if you suddenly realise you want to get something back, it’s not an issue. Refer to our Marie Kondo guide for some top tips for minimalist living!
2. Get on top of the DIY. There’s the door handle that fell off a few months back that’s never been replaced, that picture which has been waiting to be hung since 2017 and the bathroom grouting has seen better days. Now is the time to finish off all those niggling jobs, so potential buyers can see the house has been cared for. Make sure all the lights are working – a bright, well lit home is a big selling point!
3. Going big and replacing a kitchen or bathroom just before you’re ready to sell is rarely recommended as it would be unlikely to gain back what you spent at sale. Plus, the new buyer may have different tastes to you. But if you are doing something on the larger side when it comes to renovations – might be worth increasing the size of your self storage so you can move things in there while it’s completed!
4. It’s amazing what a lick of fresh paint can do for a house. Neutral, fresh colours are best as a blank canvas for a new owner – and they make rooms look light and clean. You may love a feature wall with your bespoke neon flowered wallpaper – but other people might not.
5. Kerb appeal is vital – you want people to pull up to your home and instantly think ‘wow’. Make sure paintwork is clean and in good condition, bins are put away, power wash the path and do those jobs which you never get round to like cleaning the garage door!
6. Going green – make sure any gardens/outdoor spaces are neat and tidy. You may be a Charlie Dimmock/Alan Titchmarsh in the making with amazing gardens – in which case, wow potential owners (without worrying them about the upkeep). But if green fingers are not your thing, just make sure the grass is cut, the soil and paths are weeded, edges look neat and tidy and that there’s no general clutter looking sorry for itself.
7. Does each room fulfill its purpose? It’s easy for the spare room to become a dumping ground, or the study to be overrun with toys. Has the kitchen become cluttered with never used appliances? Take a good look round your home and imagine you’re looking as a new buyer. What would you want each room to provide? Anything which doesn’t add to its appeal or form part of your daily life needs to be put away. Self storage is definitely your friend!
8. A deep clean is always going to be a good idea before a house goes on the market. Even if you’re Kim and Aggie, there’s cleaning jobs which are hard to get round to week-in and week-out. Take advantage of there being less clutter to keep on top of cleaning. It’s called a Spring Clean for a reason!
9. Piles of paperwork – it can be easy to just chuck letters, bills and statements into a drawer or onto a desk. Use this as an excuse to get it all sorted. Remember to totally destroy anything which contains any personal data to keep you safe from identity thieves. We can help with a personal shredding service to make it quick and easy, so you’re not wasting hours feeding individual sheets into a home shredder!
10. Get the whole family involved – being the one chasing round after everyone, picking up dirty clothes, tidying away toys and keeping on top of the cleaning can be exhausting – especially if you’ve got very regular viewings. Give everyone in the family responsibilities and ensure they stick to them!

Self storage can be a great asset when moving home, to help you get the best possible price for your property. You can rent exactly with the size of unit you need, for exactly the time you need it – with flexibility as you won’t have a crystal ball to know how long selling might take! It can also help when you move into your new home – you have time to consider what you need and what you don’t – and to decorate if needed, before you fill the place up.

If you’re thinking about selling why not pop into one of our self storage centres in Leeds, Wakefield or Harrogate and one of our colleagues will happily show you around.

Or if your moving plans are further along, give us a call to get a quote on a removals service?