We’ve scanned the globe and our own three decades of property experience to bring you our tried and tested tips to ensure you get the right price on your home.
1. Set a realistic price
Try to be as realistic and objective as you can as you move toward pinning a price on your property. This is where calling a few experienced real estate agents for a property valuation really comes in handy. Consider the market you are selling into. In a buyer’s market, you may have some stiff competition from many similar properties in your neighborhood. In a seller’s market, you can afford a little leeway, but not much. Set the price too high, and you run the risk of deterring would-be buyers and sitting with a house on sale for far too long.
2. Choose a busy real estate agent
Coupled with the above tip, having obtained three or four valuations from various real estate agents, avoid necessarily choosing the highest valuation. Agents should be able to offer comparative data (showing recent sales and purchase prices in your area) to back up his/her valuation. Select an agent that knows your area, is currently busy with numerous sales and has a track record of success.
3. First impressions really do last
So what first impression does your property make? What does it look like from the roadside? Is the driveway and front garden neat and inviting? In our experience, often just a few relatively small aesthetic adjustments could go a long way in improving a home’s first impression. So tidy up the front lawn, repaint the outside walls and fix broken windows or roof tiles to make sure your home impresses would-be buyers from the outset.
4. Less earns more
When it comes to the interior of your home – less is always more. Try to de-clutter as much as possible. The more open and spacious you can make your space feel, the better.
5. Tidy homes fetch tidier prices
According to an overseas study sited in the UK’s Telegraph publication, more than half of potential buyers agree that an untidy house is a major turn-off. An even higher percentage admitted that it was hard to like a home with strange smells. Rude or abrupt sellers and/or their agents were also found to decrease the appeal of a property. The lesson for sellers? Clean up your home, and wipe that frown off your face as you do it!
6. Don’t neglect the heart of your home
Most potential buyers feel like the heart of the home is its kitchen. So make sure yours is as inviting as possible. The fresh smell of brewed coffee or muffins during a show house can have a significant effect on the overarching feel of a house and more specifically, its kitchen.
7. Set a deadline
Some sellers may be tempted to press their agent to list their home well above comparable sales. Others may want to briefly test the market with a high price only to relist the home later. In our own experience, these strategies can backfire. It’s always better to accurately read the market and your home’s value so that you can price it well and sell it fast. The longer a property stays on the market, the harder it is to sell.
Heed these tips, and we’re confident you’ll fetch the best price, in the best possible timeframe – especially given the current property climate. We’re currently experiencing a strong seller’s market. There’s never been a better time to fetch the right price on your home.
Contact the Rawson franchise in your neighbourhood for a no-obligations property valuation and more sage sales advice, delivered personally.
