The July Nationwide Property Index has just been released but, despite a 4.7% increase in average house prices since the start of the year, the lender has described the property market as ‘static’. The building society points to a stalemate between buyers and sellers, with sellers putting a premium on the price of their property and buyers unwilling to pay over the odds whilst also struggling to secure a mortgage without a sizeable deposit already in place.
The solution it seems is simply to stay put. But, that also throws up more dilemmas with experts suggesting that the ‘improve to move’ trend could simply be a waste of money. A typical loft conversion for example costs an average of £20,000 but only adds a few thousand pounds to the value of the home in the eyes of the buyer. Making simple changes to update the look and feel of the home without spending money unnecessarily is the way to have the best of both worlds, advise real leather sofas experts, Leather Sofas Online. The online retailer stocks genuine leather sofas in a choice of lustrous shades, as well as leather armchairs and design classics. Its top tips for making an old home feel like new are:
1. Buy a new statement piece of furniture such as a brown leather sofa to form the centrepiece of the room. A leather sofa is preferable to a fabric one as it will age gracefully so can be moved to a new home if a property purchase is successful and still look fresh. Real leather sofas are also easier to clean as they can simply be dusted or cleaned with a leather wipe, which will prolong the new home feeling. Fabric sofas are susceptible to stains, dust mites and sagging as well as being more vulnerable to rips and tears so it can soon feel like you need another update.
2. Having picked your new real leather sofa, consider adding a statement wall in the same room. A splash of colour works well on the walls if the sofa is of a neutral shade and vice versa. Patterned wallpaper can also be used if you don’t fancy painting. There is no need to stick to the same colour palette but tie the look together with cushions and soft furnishings such as a throw in the same shade as the wall.
Research suggests that muted tones lead to greater success if you plan on showing the house to would-be buyers as creams, whites and beiges act as a blank canvas. The act of reducing your own colour preference means buyers can see the house as a blank canvas and imagine their own possessions and favourite colours in the space.
3. If you have a bigger budget and want an investment that may help sell the house when the market picks up, consider swapping existing carpets for a real wooden floor. The look can be switched between modern and contemporary and constantly evolve with the simple act of adding a different rug to the space. Wooden floors also look great with leather sofas and are preferable to carpeting for some buyers.
Wooden or laminate flooring is better for those with asthma or allergies as it doesn’t carpets trap dust mites and pet hairs as carpet can. Stains and spills are also more easily cleaned on wooden floors, which will help to keep the property appearing clean and in a good state of repair for prospective buyers. When you’re tired of the look, introduce a different rug or runner to create a totally new room.
To browse a range of genuine leather sofas and buy online, visit http://www.leathersofasonline.co.uk
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