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Property Selling Tips
1. Estate agents. Picking the right agent is vital. Look for a firm with strong representation in your local area, preferably with an office that you can easily get to. A quick check in your local paper will give you a good idea of the kind of properties that are offered by each agent. A survey of "for sale" boards is also a good pointer to the agents most active in your area. Recommendation by someone you know can often be the most reliable indicator. The person dealing with your sale can be as important as the name over the door. Visit several agents in their offices and ask for their terms, before asking them to inspect your home. Don't automatically instruct the agent who has the lowest fees or gives you the highest valuation - use your own judgement.
2. Price. Watch the market. Obviously everyone is trying to get the best price for their property, but if you want to sell quickly then you need to make sure your price is competitive. Just because someone down the road is asking a certain price does not mean that they will get it, so if you want to sell before they do, then maybe you should think about undercutting their price and not try to top it. Do your own market research before asking an estate agent - you can then discuss the correct price based on your own understanding of the market and not be dependent on what you are being told. At the end of the day it is the buyers who will decide if your price is right, not you or your estate agent.
3. Show time. Be prepared for viewings the moment you put the phone down after instructing your estate agent. Make sure your home is looking at its best, because first impressions are vitally important. Hide away unnecessary clutter and give the whole place an extra dusting. If it's winter time, try and keep all the rooms reasonably warm. Be polite, but not pushy - remember it's your estate agent's job to negotiate a sale and if you get too involved this can easily put people off.
4. Smells. If you are a smoker, remember that many buyers cannot stand the smell of cigarettes. Think about other household smells that could give a bad impression. The old cliché of having fresh coffee on the hob may also work, especially if you offer a cup to viewers. A variation on this theme is to warm a vanilla pod in the oven.
5. Kitchen. This can often be a deal maker or breaker. Give the whole room a thorough seeing to - floors, walls, worktops and cupboard doors. Above all, make sure the cooker, oven, hob and microwave are sparkling clean, especially if they are fitted and likely to be included in the sale. If you can't face the thought of doing this, there are specialist cleaning firms who will be happy to take care of this for you.
6. Maintenance. Deal with all those minor DIY jobs that you have been meaning to finish off. These details can make a significant difference and you don't want to put people off because they think they will be faced with a lot of work before they could move in.
7. Garden. Remember that a lot of buyers will first have a drive past and look at your home from the outside, before deciding if they want to make an appointment to view, so it is well worth having a good tidy up in the garden. Also clean the windows and paintwork and fix or replace any broken fencing panels. A "For Sale" sign will make it easier for buyers to find you.
8. Improvements. Generally, don't bother to do anything major just for the sake of selling, because the chances are that it will cost you more than the value it can add and could actually make it worse. If the kitchen is looking a bit tired, the buyer may well prefer to get the house a bit cheaper and then make their own decision about choosing a new one. The same goes for bathrooms, decking, solar panels, hot tubs and other gizmos.
9. Timing. The Spring and Summer are traditionally the times when people expect to be moving home. The property market starts to cool off around October and November, but by December nothing is happening at all. January normally sees a surge in interest as people recover from Christmas and start making new plans, which kick-starts the buying cycle.
10. HIPs. It looks as if Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates are now here to stay. Remember that the seller of the property is personally responsible for ensuring that a HIP and EPC are available to potential buyers, although your estate agent may take care of this as part of their package, subject to conditions.
These notes are offered as a general guide only and do not constitute legal or financial advice.
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