In this blog, we’re going to look at the more unusual factors that influence the saleability of your house, and what you can do to ensure you get the best price possible.

If you’re looking to sell your house fast, it can be surprising how even the smallest things affect the value of your home, and consequently, the likelihood of a prospective buyer making a reasonable offer.

Personal taste

If you live on a street of identical houses, you may feel a bit disconcerted by the range of sold property prices – even if they all have the same floorplan. However, if you take a closer look at the available photographs, the difference in value can easily be explained by the owner’s personal taste.

When you are presenting your home, it’s important to decorate it in a way that allows a prospective buyer to visualise themselves living there. This is often achieved by using basic colours such as cream or lavender wall paint and carpets – acting as a blank canvas for the buyer’s imagination. If you choose to incorporate odd decorative elements into your home, it may appear charming to yourself, but there is always a strong chance that it will deter previously interested parties.

Be nice to your neighbours

We all know that the personality of our neighbours is outside of our control, but for the sake of keeping your property value high it is always worth, when possible, to treat them with respect. There is always a chance that both your estate agents and prospective buyers will choose to talk with your neighbours to learn more about what it is like to live there – and a disgruntled neighbour can easily discourage a potential buyer and force you to lower your asking price.

It’s good to be odd

As strange as it sounds, the value of a home can be affected by the number on the door. Research by Zoopla found that odd-numbered houses can reach, on average, £538 more than their even-numbered counterparts.

While there is very little you can do with the designated number of your house, you can always choose to name it, and register that name with the Land Registry. Of course, the number will still remain in the address, but a pleasant title for the property can often encourage buyers to ignore the numerical curse.

Go for natural privacy

If you’re lucky enough to have a front garden, or a rear garden that is overlooked by other homes, you may want to invest in some trees. Much research has been conducted into the effect of trees and hedges on a street, and property values can be as much as five per cent lower if there aren’t any. The benefits of trees and hedges are obvious – the contrasting colours, the improved air quality and noise reduction from roads – but it is the privacy those plants provide that entices buyers and increases property values. After all, it’s always nice to be able to sunbathe privately in your own garden during the few warm days we get per year.

Campaign for development

While many people would prefer companies not to build supermarkets, stadiums, and golf courses near their homes – they may change their tune if they knew the mere presence of those developments can send your home’s value shooting through the roof. Having a supermarket nearby can raise the value of a property by as much as a whopping £40,000 (depending on the quality of the brand), and having a golf course within a reasonable distance of your domicile can increase the value of your home by a shocking 56 per cent. So if large companies begin to question residents regarding their support for large developments such as these, it may be worth letting those who live nearby know about the benefits.

Unfortunately, there are always some homes that are impossible to sell in a short time-frame. This can be because of structural issues, bad neighbours, or simply due to a lack of local amenities. Luckily, National Homebuyers are always willing to buy any home, regardless of condition or location, and are constantly inundated by clients who need to sell their homes fast for the sake of a new job, or simply to be closer to family.

Looking for a quick sale? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.