BUY
DIRECTOR, DOUGLAS & GORDON
Q.I am about to put my flat on the market and have about £5,000 to spend getting it looking it’s best. How should I spend it?
A.The trick in selling a property is to realise that most people buy within the first 30 seconds of walking in, so first impressions are vital. Given you live in a flat, this puts the onus on getting the approach to your block, and the common parts, looking their best. You may think you have no control but most lessees will thank you for getting this right especially if the managing agents aren’t good at keeping this in hand. So get any front garden looking good, make sure the front door is freshly painted and, depending on what floor you’re on, ensure the paint in the common parts and the carpets are looking their best. If not, ask your neighbours’ permission to repaint and recarpet if necessary, they may contribute. If not, it’s money well spent even if it could account for the first half of your budget. Walk into your flat as if you were a buyer. We all know about decluttering, so hire a self storage space and take out the padding in your life that buyers won’t appreciate. Bathrooms and kitchens are next and £500 should be enough to have tiles regrouted and cleaned up and, if necessary, tighten up loose fittings. You may have got used to non-aligned kitchen cupboards and a mouldy shower curtain but buyers will smell neglect. A good new work surface in the kitchen might add a few hundred quid but will be worth it and if the fitted cupboards in the kitchen are ropey consider replacing. Bear in mind that décor can be a bottomless pit and clean carpets and walls should be OK unless the colours are very individual. Always look through a buyer’s eyes and ask your estate agent what they think. The most helpful things are free though: get a good solicitor and make sure you have your Title Deeds from your Mortgage Company and three years service charges ready to go.