10 Things that Devalue Your Property

When you decide to sell your house, there are plenty of things you will have to deal with before you actually put it on sale and during the sale. A lot of factors contribute to the final price of the house. You can influence some of them, and some of them you surely can't. Check them out and be prepared before deciding to put your house on the market.

1. Illegal home improvements

Before you make any home improvements, be sure to get the approval from the local council. Otherwise, you're in danger of having to renegotiate the price of your house if a potential buyer discovers that, for example, not every room in the house was built legally.

2. General state of neglect

All of the small things in the house that you have been ignoring - deal with them before the buyers see them. Cracked concrete, peeling paint or broken back window - they decrease the value of your house, as they state from Civil design services. If you freshen up the house, put some new paint and take care of minor issues, then it's a house a potential buyer would want to move in.

3. Outdated kitchens and bathrooms

The kitchen and the bathroom are maybe the two most important rooms in a house or at least they're the one’s majority of buyers pay most attention to. So, think about refreshing them.

Regarding the kitchen, benchtops, appliances, and cabinetry are the elements you should overhaul or replace or at least get thoroughly clean. Bathroom plumbing should be in perfect order, while cracked tiles or discolored grout should be replaced.

4. Curb appeal

Your front yard is the first thing to be seen, so make sure you get rid of an old shed or fix the broken fence. And don't go too far with such as gnomes or a waterfall. It can be too much for some buyers. Also, check which plants are popular right now, maybe you'll have to make some changes or tame quick-growing bushes.

Of course, exterior paint color of the house is very important, so pick neutral colors that most people like. Front doors, being the focal point, should be painted in a carefully chosen colour, too.

5. Bad neighbourhood

People care about who they're surrounded with, but there's not much you can do about this. Neighbors who leave their lawn unattended, party animals or grumpy individuals who always find something to complain about - they are the ones buyers will be looking out for. It can lower the price of your house or prolong the sale, but it’s better if you just concentrate on what you can change - your house.

6. School district information

Another thing you can't influence on. Buyers with children will check information on schools in the proximity. The quality of nearby schools can significantly increase or decrease the value of a house, but that's something beyond your control.

7. Interior aesthetics

Your taste in furniture doesn't have to be right for the buyers. Too quirky furniture can be a put-off. Loud colors or sketchy wallpaper are also a risky thing to do if you want to sell your house. That's why it’s not a bad idea to take professional advice on how to decorate the interior of your house and make the potential buyers satisfied with what they see.

8. Unpleasant odors

While most people love pets it's important that you deal with unpleasant odors that your pet causes before the potential buyers come. But not only pets can leave smelly traces - leaking drainage or a damp can cause serious problems, too, so ask a friend to give his/her honest opinion on whether there's a nasty smell somewhere in the house.

9. Poor presentation

Make sure you tidy up the whole house; otherwise, the mess will spoil the positive impression. Deal with the chaos even in the cupboards or closets, because people like to check how much space is available to them. Poor presentation of a great house makes the overall impression – poor.

10. Wrong choice of agent

Any good agent will put your interests first and really work hard for you. A skillful agent will know how to give constructive advice, which can be crucial for the final price of the house. Compare agents and choose carefully, it's one of the essential points of selling a house at the proper price.