TIPS ON SELLING
- Make sure that you find yourself an agent who understands your needs and demands. YES! demands, after-all you are paying for us to work for you. Get an honest appraisal of your property not an inflated value so that you give the listing to them. If an agent can't or won't give you at least an estimated selling price, why would you list with them? How can they market your property to the right buyers if they don't have a clue how much it is worth. Don't look at the amount of listings that a salesperson has, a high number of listings could also mean that they have been giving out the "feel good price" to their vendors. Ask to see how long the properties that they are marketing have been on the market, and ask to see the start and finish price on the previous properties they have sold.
- You should give an agent at least 90 days to exclusively market your property, this way they are going to work their little socks off to find the right buyer at the right price for you. If you have more than one agent trying to sell your property i.e. on general agency, what this results in is both agents trying to get a quick sale before the other one does, normally ending with a sale price lower than what it should have been, the agent still gets paid but you lose out.
- Home improvements? If they are going to be major ones, find out how much it is going to cost you compared to the potential "added value" (if any). We don't want you to lose money before you sell your house.
- First impressions count! Make sure that your property is presented at its best at all times i.e. cut the lawns, remove the rubbish and make sure your house is noticed, especially the "For Sale" signs.
- If you have a small garage then leave the car on the drive, this will make your garage look more spacious than what it actually is.
- Make sure your house is bright and welcoming, open blinds and curtains and turn on lights in dark rooms.
- Eliminate bad smells, you will be surprised how many buyers turn down a house they really like just because it doesn't smell right.
- De-clutter your kitchen and only keep things on the work surfaces that really need to be there. Make sure that all your taps and steelware are clean and sparkling.
- If you are having open homes, make sure people can walk around without being obstructed by boxes or ill placed furniture, otherwise the house will seem smaller to them than what it is.
- Keep all your pets out of the way of potential buyers, they may be cute and cuddly to you but don't forget some people have allergies and real fears of certain types of animals etc.
- If you are having open homes then stay well out of the way, most people go out for the morning or afternoon. Buyers tend to get put off when the vendors are home. Let your agent do the work they are being paid to do.
