Buying and selling houses can be stressful and not as glamorous and fun as our favorite Netflix show, Selling Sunset. Even when you think you’ve found the dream home or a buyer willing to pay the asking price, there may still be obstacles and barriers to overcome. If you’re selling up and moving to pastures new, it’s natural to long for a quick, stress-free sale. In this guide, we’ll provide useful advice for homeowners keen to attract offers instantly!
Marketing
One of the most important decisions to get right when you’re selling your home is choosing a real estate agency that has expertise and experience in marketing. From captivating descriptions and professional online galleries to contact lists and lead creation, it’s hugely beneficial to choose an agency that will showcase your home in its best light and spread the word. Prospective buyers are heavily influenced by images and today, there’s a raft of tricks and tools you can use to elevate listings and entice buyers. Look for companies that utilise drone photos, professional photographers and virtual tours, for example. Take the time to speak to representatives, ask about services and perks, compare results and prices and ask neighbours, colleagues and friends for recommendations.
Staging and presentation
When your home is on show, either for photographs, open houses or viewings, staging and presentation are crucial. Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes and think about what they would want to see when they pull up in the driveway or walk through the front door. Always ensure that your home is clean and tidy, use room sprays, scented candles or diffusers to add a pleasant scent and declutter. Open the curtains and blinds wide to maximise natural light and use plants and flowers to add vibrancy and freshness.
Write a to-do list in the run-up to putting your house on the market. Jobs like mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, tidying up patios and driveways, finishing half-baked DIY jobs and touching up the paintwork can make all the difference. It’s also beneficial to enhance curb appeal. Simple touches like adding potted trees, hanging baskets or lanterns to the porch, repainting the front door and taking the bins around the back can make your home look more inviting.
Pricing
The vast majority of buyers will enter into a property search with a budget in mind. As a seller, it’s crucial to think about your pricing strategy. Arrange for several agencies to visit your home and provide a valuation, analyse market conditions and the level of demand in the area and discuss your options with your agent. If the market is competitive and buyers are desperate to snap up properties in the town, you may be able to attract offers that exceed the value of the house. If the market is slow, or there are lots of similar properties available, you may need to set a lower starting price. Be prepared to negotiate and remember that real estate is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay, regardless of the valuation.
Selling a house can be stressful but there are ways to maximise the chances of attracting offers and negotiating the process without encountering too many bumps along the way. Take these tips on board to make selling your home simpler.
