With the number of first time buyers seeking mortgage advice reaching a 23 month high, it would seem as though confidence is once again returning to the housing market.
Searches for first time mortgage advice were 41 per cent in January, according to unbiased.co.uk's latest Advice Drivers1 report.
Research by Halifax has also shown that nearly a third of Britain’s expect house prices to rise rather than fall in 2012, while over half admit that their only obstacle to buying a new property is fears over job security.
What’s more, the Halifax Housing Market Confidence Tracker reveals that the headline House Price Outlook balance has moved into positive territory, with an overall rating of +7 percentage points (29 per cent expecting a rise minus 22 per cent expecting a fall in prices), representing a significant improvement from the negative reading of -2 (28 per cent minus 30 per cent) recorded in October 2011.
Consequently, it would seem that now is the ideal opportunity to consider selling your property and implementing those vital improvements that will attract prospective buyers.
However, many Brits are often unsure of what needs doing in a home to make it stand out from the crowd. After all, it is hard to be unbiased when looking at your own property.
It may be beneficial to think instead about the attributes you would look for in a new house.
Furthermore, when viewing properties people often want to see the potential of a space, rather than a completely blank canvas.
Thinking outside of the box and envisaging an alternative way that your home could be presented may just give you the edge in the property market.
For instance,
windows can make or break a room, yet many people neglect them when redecorating their property.
Try something different with your windows, such as bold new curtains or shutters. And remember to give wooden frames a lick of paint.
Sam Tamlyn, head of operations at californiashuttercompany.co.uk, suggests trying bold colours to draw the eye in 2012.
“If you're looking to use colour to make a statement, I'd recommend pairing beautiful, bold-coloured shutters with a more subdued colour on walls,” he said.
“This will completely change the look and feel of a room, without breaking the bank.”
