And in the current market with homes taking longer than usual to sell in most areas, it’s important for sellers to pull out all the stops to make their property stand out from the competition and don’t languish on the market interminably.
A timeous sale can also make the difference between being able to buy the home on which you have already put in an offer or losing out on the purchase and having to start your own home search all over again.
Although there is certainly an element of luck to selling a home quickly, if you’re doing everything you could and should be doing and have appointed an experienced agent, it’s only a matter of time before the right buyer comes along and the deal is concluded.
Sell at the right time: You don’t always have a choice in the matter, but if you do have some leeway then spring and summer are usually the best times to sell. Gardens are in full bloom and most properties look their best in bright, sunny weather. And more potential buyers will be tempted to venture out to view properties if it’s not pouring with rain.
Do your homework: As soon as you decide to sell, research the market in your area to ascertain what is out there, what are similar properties selling for, what features are popular, which listed properties stand out for you and why.
Appoint the right agent: Enthusiasm and a friendly personality are not enough - you need an experienced professional who has a thorough knowledge of the market in your area as well as a good sales track record. And don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Remember that your agent serves as the main point of contact between yourself and buyers, doing everything from creatively crafting listings and marketing to scheduling and conducting viewings, negotiating on your behalf and navigating an array of potential minefields.
Price it right: Listing your home for the highest possible price may seem like the sensible thing to do as we expect the transaction to be a negotiation but it’s the worst thing you can do, especially in a tough market.
When buyers have options, they will always choose the best value and if a similar home is on the market for less, that is the property they will buy. And if your home is on the market for ages, and especially if the price is then reduced, potential buyers will begin to wonder what’s wrong with it and the chances are that you’ll eventually sell for less than if you had priced it correctly from the get-go.
Touch up – but don’t over-capitalise: Your house should look it best and quick fixes like a fresh coat of paint, fixing broken window hinges and leaking taps and replacing broken fittings will always pay off, but you are unlikely to see a return on investment for major upgrades and renovations done just before selling.
Don’t leave compliance certificates until the last minute: Home owners are required by law to ensure that the property is legally fit for sale and the transfer attorney must be in possession of the relevant compliance certificates before the transfer can take place,
If all is in order, these are quick (and cheap) to acquire but if any problems are discovered, not only will you have to fork out for repairs on top of all the other sale-related expenses, if the work is extensive, the transfer could be delayed or you could even end up losing the sale.
Ensure you have a current set of council-approved plans: Although house plans are not a legal requirement in a property sale, many buyers are now requesting them, and these can take months to finalise will almost certainly delay if not scupper the deal.
Don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal: You only have one chance to make a good first impression and this is usually formed before the buyer even sets foot inside your home. Mow the lawn, trip unruly bushes, give the fence a lick of paint and make sure your front door and entrance porch are presentable.
De-personalise your home: This is more important than you’d imagine because the more personal items in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Pack away family photographs, clear countertops of personal clutter and keep the fridge clear of kid’s drawings.
Clear closets: Storage space is one factor that every buyer looks for and if your cupboards are overstuffed and untidy it will give the impression that your home is lacking. Tidy all closets and, if possible, remove up to half of the contents so buyers will have the impression of abundant space. And remember, they will inevitably snoop.
Tidy the garage: It may seem like the perfect place to hide the clutter from the house and it’s probably where you store all the items that are seldom used, but a messy garage will detract from the effort you make in the house.
Professional photographs – plenty of them: Your home will be competing with many others on the market so you need to make sure that yours immediately captures potential buyers’ attention when they are trawling through online listings.
A meagre selection of photos with bad lighting which show personal clutter and unclear angles are unlikely to attract much interest so make sure your home is shown to its best advantage with enough quality photos to give people a clear idea of your home’s attributes.
Be flexible with showing times: It can be challenging to always have your home show ready and potential buyers may well want to view at inconvenient times, however, the fact of the matter is that the more available you make your home for viewing, the sooner you will sell.
Conceal the pets: Not everyone is an animal lover and some potential viewers may be put off when welcomed by exuberant dogs or stumbling over a smelly litter box so, if at all possible, take the fur kids with you when people are viewing or leave them at a neighbour.
Although the market may not exactly be booming at the moment, a well-presented, realistically priced home, especially in a sought-after area, will always find a buyer if you take the time to do a little homework, make a little extra effort and work with your agent.
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