Selling Tips
The decision to sell a house whether it is the family home, an investment property, or the house of a departed loved one can be daunting. Combining emotions, finances, stress and the general fear of the “unknown” blend a cocktail of concern for many people who dread the transaction however; this does not have to be the case. SMART Real Estate has developed a guide to selling your home to help reduce stress, ease concerns and ensure the best possible outcome of the sale.
Preparing the house for sale
Rule number one: Stop looking at the property as your “home”; and start looking at it as a “house”.
At least in the early stages, it’s important to disconnect yourself emotionally from the house and be objective. Pretend you have never seen the house before and you yourself are considering buying it. Scrutinise the aesthetics and functionality of the house looking for any minor improvements that can be made. Decide on your homes stronger and weaker points.
- Write a list of benefits your house offers. What features encouraged you to buy it in the first place? Consider how these can be highlighted. It’s amazing how many people decided on a house because of unique feature such as a stained glass window, or a big mango tree in the yard.
- Write a list of areas where your house needs improving. Stand out the front, drive down the street comparing houses, and get a friend to play “devil’s advocate” and point out the flaws you no longer see.
- Can you make any of these improvements? Or can you disguise them? E.g. Are there simple measures you can take like using brighter light bulbs in darker rooms?
The main areas to focus on are:
- The exterior: does your house have kerbside appeal? Many home-hunters will drive past before booking an inspection.
- Kitchen and bathroom: two main areas associated with hygiene. Giving a fresh coat of paint and a good clean will pay off dramatically.
- Master bedroom: a major deciding factor. Make sure it’s clean and functional; do the cupboards, fans or air conditioning work as they should?
It’s time to blow away the dust that has made the “to do” list on the fridge illegible, whip out the tool box and get to work! Those little annoyances you have learned to live with and no longer notice, scream “high maintenance” to a prospective buyer. A few days hard work may be easy money made when the time comes to sell. Key areas to look at are:
- Daggy curtains
- Dripping taps
- Broken light fittings
- Weed infested garden beds
- Peeling or discoloured paint
- Squeaking doors
- Cleaning carpets or repolishing floor boards
- Dusty areas
- Mould
- Clutter - you are going to have to pack everything up sooner or later. Removing bulky items and clutter make rooms appear more spacious.
Agent
Your agent is there to help you get the best results. Talk about the strengths and weaknesses of your property with your agent. They will be able to offer invaluable advice on simple areas you can make big improvements. Discuss with your agent the intangible benefits of your house which they may not otherwise know such as friendly neighbours, or cool summer breezes. These are the things that make inspecting buyers consider the house as a home. Agents, particularly from smaller agencies have the time to invest in learning about your house. The more information an agent has about the house, the more likely they will be able to make a buyer fall “in love” with the house instead of just “like” it!
Pricing
It’s important to decide on a realistic price that correlates with your timeframe and expectations before you list your house. Changing the house price once on the market can send the wrong message. Listing the property with a price that is unreasonably high will discourage first round buyers. Reducing the price later sends the wrong message to prospective buyers down the track.
- Research the market; who is buying in the area and how much they are paying? Websites such as (???) provide up to date information on property sales in your area over the last few years.
- Talk to your neighbours and have a realistic expectation of the price.
- Bear in mind economic factors such as inflation and interest rates and don’t expect a price on the grounds “it’s what next door sold for”.
Marketing
Marketing your home correctly is integral to the final outcome. By now you should have a fair idea of the kind of person who is likely to be interested in your house, and it’s important to consider what media they use. Older people may be more inclined to search the newspapers, whilst young time-poor families may prefer virtual tours online before they arrange an inspection. Discuss these options with your agent, and investing in the right kind of marketing will pay off.
Inspections
Once your house is on the market, and you have potential buyers coming through, be aware of things which may enhance or destroy the ambience of the house such as large or loud pets, music playing, and the tidiness of the house. Also ensure your valuables are kept out of sight of temptation.