As estate agents in Bishop’s Stortford, we hear the word “desirable” brandished about regularly in the property game, but what does it really mean? More importantly does your house ooze desirability?
We’ve created the ultimate list of desirability factors that you can use to identify what makes a property desirable and whether your home fits the bill. (You may even be able to improve your home’s desirability rating after reading our list too!)
What makes a property desirable?
Location
This is a big one in the desirability stakes, the most desirable properties are all about balance. Desirable properties have the best of both; local shops and conveniences either a walk or a short drive away as well as not being too crowded, overlooked and busy. Is your property near to a good school- but not too near? All of these things are important when thinking about the desirability rating of your home.
Condition
This one is flexible and it does depend on the buyer but the condition of your property is a sure-fire way to work out whether or not your home is desirable.
Most buyers prefer to purchase a home that is in great condition, well looked after with tasteful décor, attractive frontage and not too much work to be done. (This is something you can improve on yourself that will impact your home’s desirability rating. Does your house need a fresh lick of paint and some double-glazing? If you’re thinking of selling these could well be things worth considering before you do.)
Layout
Sellers with period properties tend to find this more of an issue than those with more contemporary or new-build homes, but the layout of your home can be a huge plus point or huge thumbs down for potential buyers. If your home is a bit higgledy piggledy or the layout is a little unconventional this can impact how desirable your home will appear to buyers. (You can help by moving around your layout for viewings/pictures and adding in a more defined dining room or making the space more user friendly for non-imaginative buyers.)
Outside Space
Most buyers want a garden, at least a small one. What they don’t want is an overgrown forest which screams for hard work and attention. Giving your back and front gardens some love and attention at the weekends can not only give you something to do but will help your home to make the best possible impression.
Space
Inside space is always a bone of contention and this one again will vary between buyers but essentially it boils down to this. Does your home make the most of the space on offer? If you are often thinking that you wish you had more space for this or that, then your buyers probably will too. Decluttering will help you to ascertain how much space you actually have and envision the best way you can stage/present it to make your home look as user friendly as possible.
The best way to work out the desirability rating of your home is to think like your ideal buyer. We’ve said this in previous blogs but have a think about what sort of person your home appeals to most: is it a young family? A professional couple? A retired person/couple? Once you’ve worked out your ideal buyer, work out what you think would be of value to them. For example, a retired couple would value a smaller more manageable garden, and proximity to a bus route into town.
A young family would value proximity to local schools, playgrounds and shops. Professional couples may value motor or railway links into cities.
If you wanted to be methodical about your home’s desirability rating, why not mark your home out of 2 for each of the headings above and work out if/how you could improve the desirability rating of your home before sale.
Give it a go and let us know how you get on!