By Michael Bruce, CEO of Purplebricks.com
When it comes to selling your home, it seems that every stage is another money pit. With pulls on your finances from legal fees, estate agents, surveyors and moving costs – all on top of making sure your home is picture perfect – it can be difficult to know how to prioritise where to spend and how you can save. But there are ways you can be savvy with your cash. Michael Bruce, CEO of hybrid estate agency Purplebricks.com, shares his tips for how to save money when selling your property and where it’s best to invest:
Shop around
Whilst it’s always easier to pay for the first surveyor that comes your way, invest time exploring and researching your options when it comes to the necessary expenses such as legal fees, surveyors and even moving costs. Instead of booking a removal team, find a good deal on a hire van, source second hand boxes and move yourself.
Pay a set price for your estate agent
Using a hybrid agency that combines online with local expertise means that you pay a set fee, which is significantly lower than the average estate agent fee of over £5,000. For example, Purplebricks charges a low fixed fee providing access to a unique online system, the estate agent services of local property experts and listings on all the big portals like RightMove and Zoopla.
Cut back on your monthly outgoings
Making cutbacks is crucial. Keeping on top of endless outgoings is hard work but evaluating your lifestyle and making small changes can be invaluable. As an example, cut down on eating out and entertain at home – any money saved can go towards moving costs.
Give your home real appeal
When selling your home it’s all about appealing to the buyer. If you’re going to spend on making your home an attractive buy, create an illusion of space by removing obstacles that divide your house up and buy reflective surfaces, which are an easy win for any house looking to impress. First impressions really are everything.
Invest in well-designed storage
Wardrobe space will always be a big draw for buyers, especially when it’s included in the purchase price. By investing in well-designed storage options, the buyer can easily see how much space they’ll have for their own possessions and it will make them feel confident that a room won’t need to be swallowed by large items of furniture.
Make the most of outside space
A garden, patio or balcony can be a great selling point. Invest time and even a small amount of money into sprucing up any outdoor space you have. Pot plants can instantly make a small space look more idyllic, and for a larger space, make sure nothing is looking too overgrown, as this will just make the space look and feel smaller.
