Most of us hope that selling our home will be as quick and stress free as possible. However, despite all we hear about the housing crisis and lack of appropriate homes, a vast range of properties remain on the market for months at a time. Once the housing market starts to recover from the current pandemic, you may find that your property has been on the market for a while and you’re struggling to find that all important buyer. The positive news is that although there will be lots of houses on the market waiting to be sold, there will be lots of potentially buyers looking for their dream home. Here are our top tips to make sure your home is in the best possible position to sell:
- Unflattering photos
The first place a potential buyer is likely to see your property is online or in an estate agents window and it’s the picture that is going to catch their eye. If your pictures aren’t flattering, you’re going to struggle to get that initial attraction. Dimly lit or messy rooms are a huge turn off, an unkept garden or a bad angle not making the most of the space can be the difference between whether a buyer considers viewing your home or not. If you’re selling without an agent you may be looking to take the pictures yourself, but property photography isn’t as simple as it may look and hiring a professional may make a world of difference. As this is the first step in a potential buyer seeing your home it could be well worth investing in. Some estate agents have the experience to take these pictures themselves as they’ve gotten used to shifting furniture and know the angles that show off the property’s best features. Whether you’re using a photographer, an agent or taking them yourself, consider whether the images would appeal enough to make you stop and look.
- First impressions count
If you were to arrive at a house with an overgrown front garden, overflowing bins and unclean doors and windows – would you be impressed? As the first thing your potential buyer sees when they arrive at your property, your drive, garden and the front of the house should be in the best condition possible. It’s surprising what a difference cutting the grass, trimming the hedge and jet washing the drive can do. Ensuring the bins are hidden out of site, the front door has had a fresh coat of paint and the windows are clean are all easy steps you can take to make that first impression a positive one.
- Interior pitfalls
Perhaps the most important factor to get right is the interior. Making sure your home is clean and tidy goes without saying, but if you’ve been struggling to clinch a buyer there are some extra steps you can take. Your house should appear pet and child free, opening windows in the summer or putting the fire/log burner on in the winter are little differences that can make things appear more homely without clutter. It will be best to redecorate any rooms that are too full of character – you may love that bright green wall but not everyone will - neutral colours help people to envision their belongings in your home and decor to their taste. Licks of paint and extra touches such as fresh flowers and refreshing scents will give the impression the house is well looked after.
- Is your asking price unreasonable?
We all want to make the most money we can when it comes to selling a house but if you or your agent overestimate what your property is worth – buyers are just going to be put off. Research what other homes in the area have sold for, get advice from more than one estate agent and be realistic. It’s a good idea to be willing to negotiate, especially if your home has been on the market for some time.
- Bad timing
The time of year can really affect how many house viewers you have. If you put your house on the market in December bear in mind that it’s likely people will be putting off viewing and buying until the new year. The longer your house is on the market, the more likely it is the buyer will be expecting you to negotiate on price. Spring is traditionally the busiest time for house sales with plenty of buyers, but also plenty of competition from other sellers. If you believe the time of year is negatively affecting the sale of your house, why not consider taking the time to make improvements to your home so that it stands out from the competition when you put it back on the market.
- Is an estate agent right for me?
Many people don’t explore the other options there is when it comes to selling your home. You may have chosen to sell your home with an estate agent with the belief that it’s the easiest and most common method. By selling with an agent you are putting your trust in them to value your home, put the effort in to marketing it, securing viewers and negotiating fairly with the buyer on your behalf. Bear in mind that you are one of many clients an estate agent will have so they won’t be able to dedicate 24/7 to selling your home. They may also have motives such as completing a sale quickly or slowly which can affect the offer you receive.
Of course, there are other options which leave you in control of the process, without losing out on money or your own time. 321 Move will help you sell your home in three simple steps. Sometimes, you just want a quick and hassle-free way to sell your home, for cash, with traditional methods of selling houses often being too costly and extremely time consuming. Unless any substantial issues are flagged by the surveyor that you have not previously declared to us, the price you are initially offered will be the money you receive upon completion. There’s no hidden fees or costs and you can receive the money in as little as 14 days. Request an instant free house valuation today.