I’m a property expert – five house viewing mistakes sellers make at Christmas wiping £1,000s off your home’s value
CHRISTMAS is always a colourful affair, but toning down your decorations could be the key to reeling in potential buyers.
Many homeowners don't realise that their usual festive displays could wipe thousands off their house price.
For example, overpowering festive scents could reduce the amount people are willing to offer or put them off completely.
That's according to Simone Santaub at estate agent Property Rescue.
She said: "It's a buyer's market at the moment because there is a lot of choice out there.
"Things that may not have deterred purchasers in a different market, may now.
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"Putting in something of a specific taste may push potential purchasers to other properties on the market, decreasing the demand and, therefore, the value of a property."
She shared five mistakes to avoid when showing your home to potential buyers at Christmas to avoid thousands of pounds being knocked off the asking price.
Overwhelming decorations
One of the biggest turn-offs for potential buyers is too many brightly coloured decorations.
Simone said: "Going overboard with your Christmas decorations ahead of potential viewings can make it difficult for potential buyers to envision a home as their own and make the space seem smaller.
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"In some cases, the decorations could be hiding imperfections, or even causing them when you put up with DIY, like nailing wreaths on the front door."
Simone said this could lead to a last-minute request for money to be knocked off the agreed selling price.
Instead, it's best to take the less is more approach to decorations and stick to a theme.
If you're planning on putting anything up on the walls with nails or sticky tack, make sure that they won't leave a mark or permanently damage your home.
Simone added: "Loud and bold decorations can detract from the real features of your home, which are what you want potential buyers to really focus on.
"So if you are going to decorate, simple and neutral is a good option with things like white lights."
Try a clutter-free Christmas
The difference between presenting a tidy house versus a messy home can cause a huge swing in price, according to Simone.
She said: "As with general house decor, the trick is to keep things simple and neutral to improve appeal.
"Adding too many decorations inside could detract from a space rather than enhance it."
If you don't want to part with your decorations completely, you could put them away in cupboards while the viewing is taking place and get them out again after.
Outdoor lighting
Brightly coloured Christmas lights outside your home could be really detrimental to the overall impression of your home, even if it's an otherwise lovely property.
And with the nights drawing in earlier, it's likely that you could be having a viewing in the dark when your lights will be on full display.
"Evenings are a popular time to view, and outside lights should be kept to a minimum so the house is visible," Simone said.
"If you don't, they could overpower your garden and make it look small."
Christmas scents
Christmas scents may not make or break your sale, but if they're not to the buyer's taste, they may not want to stick around for very long.
Simone said: "Many festive smells can be overpowering and detract from a home’s natural appeal.
"Cinnamon is a popular holiday choice, but using too much can quickly overpower a space.
"For a more gentle Christmas smell, something like vanilla can create a cosy ambience without being overpowering.";
Plus, if you're thinking of using spray scents to disguise the smell of a pet, Simone said that you may want to think again.
"Doing this can make them worse," she added. "Be sure to address any bad odours before viewings.
"It’s also a good idea to air a property before viewing it so it’s not stuffy and smells fresh."
Inflexible viewing times
Christmas is a busy time of year, so finding time for a house viewing may be a struggle.
But Simone says it's important to be flexible to maximise your chances of getting the best possible price for your home.
She said: "Christmas is when many want to relax, but being inflexible and limiting viewing times during the holiday season may mean you’re missing out on potential buyers and losing offers."
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Make sure you keep a diary to track your commitments and stop a potential sale from falling through the cracks.
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