Your property may very well be your most valuable asset, so when it comes to selling your home you’ll no doubt want to ensure that you get the best price for it.
Before you begin the often-stressful process of selling, you should conduct a thorough external and internal review of your property to look for anything that could bring its value down, and look to resolve any issues you can. At a time when we are seeing increasing reports of an unsure housing market and warnings of a recession in the UK, it is vital that you give yourself the best possible chance of a good return on your original investment.
In this blog, we will explore the hidden issues that can affect your house price, together with the ways in which you can address them before getting your property valued and put on the market.
Structural Damage
Over time, structural damage is not uncommon in older properties, and even newer homes can develop problems in the brickwork and stonework.
The telltale signs that structural repairs are needed include:
- Cracked masonry
- Slumping of the masonry
- Ground movement
Estate agents will consider these factors when valuing your property, and when it comes to the survey stage, any prospective buyer’s surveyor will likely spot these. With these type of issues it’s crucial to get the help and advice of a professional, so that they can diagnose the issue and resolve it accordingly.
At Peter Cox, we offer bespoke services for crack stitching, lintel repairs, and cavity wall ties – all of which can work to strengthen and repair your property. We understand that the thought of any form of structural repairs can be daunting, but our solutions are generally non-intrusive and cost effective, and can help you restore your property before a sale.
Damp
If you spot peeling wallpaper, tide marks on your wall, bubbling plaster or paint, black mould or discoloured patches on your walls or ceiling, then the chances are your property needs some kind of damp proofing. Just remember, if you can spot the signs, keen eyed estate agents and potential buyers (who will be on the lookout for issues) will also spot them.
If damp problems are left to develop and worsen they can cause serious damage to your property. Identifying the exact type of damp proofing you need can sometimes be difficult for those who are not professionally trained. Symptoms of conditions like penetrating damp, rising damp, salt damp and condensation can look similar but all require different damp proofing techniques to solve them effectively.
Consulting a qualified and experienced damp proofing contractor is always our recommended course of action. They can advise on what work is a priority and what work is less urgent, so you can decide how much work you’d like to carry out before selling.
If you have a belowground space, like a basement or cellar, you could also think about waterproofing this area to make it a useable space as it may improve the value and appeal of your home.
Timber issues
- Dry rot is an aggressive form of fungal growth that can cause serious timber decay, can grow through masonry and weaken structural timber in buildings. It requires professional treatment to remove it from your home. It will also alarm potential buyers and indicate deeper issues with damp, so it’s important to get it treated before house viewings.
- Wet rot is a fairly common form of timber decay, where fungal growth begins to spread on wooden surfaces with high moisture content or in damp conditions. It can appear as white or brown rot and leave the timber brittle and weak.
- Woodworm infestations can affect your property by beetles laying their eggs on structural timbers and subsequently infesting the timber with larvae (woodworm) that consume components of the wood, making it structurally weaker.
Home insulation
With rising energy prices, potential buyers may also be looking for a new home that is well insulated as it is one of the best ways to reduce energy bills.
In fact, it’s estimated that a quarter of heat from a property is lost through the roof of an uninsulated home. So insulation – or topping up your insulation – is an effective way of easily reducing heating bills.
If your home has poor insulation, or has no insulation at all, Peter Cox can offer a wide range of energy saving solutions to increase insulation efficiency. To help our clients, we have introduced a new insulation service, whereby our teams can identify any missing or inadequate levels of insulation in your property as part of our property surveys.
Final thoughts
Alongside the services mentioned above, at Peter Cox we also offer a range of specialist services including waterproofing and bird control.
For more help and advice on how to assess your property and the work that’s needed before you decide to sell, contact your local Peter Cox specialists.
