Presenting Your Home

First impressions are the most important, and buyers often return to buy the first property that made them feel comfortable, secure and at home. If your villa or apartment looks well cared for, buyers assume that even the things they can’t see at first glance are also well maintained.

But if your home has peeling paint, cracks in the plaster, and worst of all, damp patches anywhere on the walls, buyers will assume the property has major structural problems.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, but minor cosmetic repairs will greatly increase the instant appeal of your property to a home buyer.

Ask the Listing Agent who comes to value your home, to identify those features that will increase your home’s “first impressions” appeal to the buyer.

The Value of Minor Repairs  

The less you have to spend to prepare your villa in Spain for resale, the better. Major improvements (such as new roof, or a redesigned kitchen) rarely recoup their cost from a buyer.

Your money is much better spent making inexpensive, cosmetic touch ups to the Oropesa villa or apartment for resale.

For example: repainting rooms with peeling paint, replacing broken tiles, tidying up the garden, are things which cost relatively little compared to the value of giving the overall effect of a well cared for property.

Your Listing Agent knows what buyers’ in your area value most, and can advise you on improvements to make to your resale villa or apartment in Oropesa. Don’t hesitate to ask for their opinion. They will be glad to share their knowledge with you.

First Impressions Appeal

It’s a numbers game. You need the maximum number of potential buyers to view your home. If your Oropesa villa lacks immediate visual appeal from outside, potential buyers may not even want to enter and view the whole property. With a little effort you can improve your home’s appeal and increase the buyer walk-throughs by:

Cutting, edging and regularly watering the lawn;

Trimming hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and pruning trees;

Repairing cracks and broken tiles in steps, paths, walls and patios;

Repairing peeling paint on doors and windows;

Cleaning and aligning gutters and drain pipes;

Replacing loose or broken roof tiles;

Repaint the front door and place pot plants beside it;

Keep the garage door closed.

Create the Right Interior Atmosphere

Anything you can do to make buyers feel comfortable in your home is worth the effort. Whilst the outside appearance gets their attention, the interior atmosphere of your home will make or break a sale. A few repairs and just tidying up can get you closer to making the sale:

Cleaning every room in your Spanish house and tidying the daily clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter.

Repainting soiled or strongly coloured walls in a neutral shade; white, off-white or beige, and keeping this neutral theme throughout the house, may not be your cup of tea, but it will make the rooms seem bigger and it is more acceptable to a greater number of people.

Check for cracks, leaks, and signs of dampness everywhere in the house. Dampness is the most off-putting of all defects. In villas in Oropesa, it is not normally a major structural problem. Most likely the result of broken roof tiles, or a broken pipe in the wall, easily repaired. However, most buyers are from northern Europe where damp patches suggest major defects in a property, costing lots of money to put right. They are unlikely to make an offer on a property with obvious damp problems.

Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, paint, and tiles.

Repair broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and other woodwork.

Check plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and alarm systems for correct functioning.

Repair dripping taps and showerheads.

Buying showy new towels for the bathrooms (to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way) is an effective touch.