DIY Tasks to Tackle This Bank Holiday Weekend

The Bank Holiday weekend is almost upon us and a survey carried out by HSBC suggests that over 50% of us will be staying at home to carry out some of those DIY jobs that we’ve been putting off since the beginning of the year. A significant percentage of those people will be working around the house with a view to selling their property and there are many small and larger tasks that are known to help achieve a quicker sale.

If you believe the weather forecast, we are certainly in line for the type of weather that suits indoor DIY but what are the jobs that will carry most value when it comes to selling your home?

The 2012 HSBC Home Improvement Survey shows a list of jobs that property experts believe will add value to your house, while it also indicates how much importance individual homeowners place on those tasks.

As far as the experts are concerned, de-cluttering space is the most vital job by far with 93% claiming that this task made a bigger impact on potential buyers than anything else. In contrast however, only 71% of property owners felt that this was necessary.

This is just one area where experts and individuals disagree and it shows that there are many popular misconceptions over which jobs are vital to the vendor. It even seems in some cases that property owners are still falling into the clichéd traps of putting out fresh flowers and brewing fresh pots of coffee.

One of the key elements that HSBC stress is the importance of first impressions and there are many jobs that can be done right now that will have a tangible impact on any potential buyer.

“Many householders spend the Bank Holidays on DIY projects to help boost property value and saleability. However it is often the smaller jobs like painting the front door that can make all the difference when looking for a quick sale,” said Peter Dockar, head of mortgages at HSBC.

The front of the property is simply vital in regards to those crucial first impressions so aside from the front door itself, if you have an immediately visible garage door then this should be looked at. Door furniture is important too and if you have tired finger plates and letter boxes, they can be easily and cheaply renewed.

Fences and gates are other areas that experts believe will aid a successful property sale and above all, the HSBC survey highlights the disparity behind those expert views and the ones held by the homeowners themselves.

If you want to achieve a quick sale at a price to suit, the results of the survey should certainly be considered by any vendor.