If you are selling your home and you are at the stage of arranging viewings, you have done well to get to this point. Some vendors struggle to garner any interest in their property, so if you have buyers contacting you or the agent to arrange a viewing, there is clearly some interest. However, there is still a lot of work to be done at this stage, and vendors should consider what buyers want to see during a viewing.
It is natural that vendors think of their own needs or cater to their own taste, but in order to make the best possible impression on a prospective buyer, it is vital to tailor the home to their needs. If you work closely with an estate agent, it is likely you will know who the most likely buyer is. A skilled and experienced estate agent understands the local market and they know the demographic(s) who will most likely have an interest in your home.
This allows you to stage your property and add some flourishes to ensure you have a home that appeals to the most likely buyer.
Make sure your home appeals to buyers
However, there are also some general tips and recommendations you should consider when staging your home to appeal to a buyer. A study undertaken by Vileda, a company best known for their household cleaning products, provides insight into what buyers look at when viewing property. The study saw prospective buyers presented with eye-tracking goggles as they reviewed a home, which allowed analysis of what these buyers looked at to be undertaken.
The most important feature in a room for prospective buyers was the window or windows. The study suggests 95% of buyers made their way to the windows, and there are a few important aspects to consider with respect to the window area.
The view on offer from a window is important but apart from making sure nothing blocks the view, either inside the house or in your garden area, there isn’t much you can do to change or improve the view. However, buyers will also check windows to determine the condition of frames and how well insulated the windows are.
Well-insulated windows are very popular
Well-insulated windows make a home feel more comfortable, they reduce the likelihood of dampness and they reduce noise from outside the property impacting on the inside of the home. Also, if a room is better insulated, this can lead to reduced energy bills, because there is less need to have the heating up high or on for as long. This outcome helps to make a household more energy efficient, which is something that many people are looking for.
Another issue that buyers are concerned with is storage space. The study found 80% of prospective buyers took time to look into storage spaces, cupboards and units. In trying to create as much space around the home, it can be tempting to place items into these areas, but this may diminish how appealing your home is to buyers.
Storage space is crucial and if all your storage areas are cramped and used, buyers will think there isn’t much available space. This will lead to them questioning whether your home is large enough for their needs. In the short-term, placing items into external storage may provide you with a suitable solution that pleases prospective buyers.
Satisfying the needs and demands of buyers in the viewing stage is essential if you want them to make an offer on your home. If you are looking for assistance in viewing your home, contact Hunters Forest Hill and we will be more than happy to assist you.
