How to Sell Your House
Dave Matthews
Selling your house is just as big a project as buying a new house. Even if you are planning on using an estate agent it is in your best interest that you understand the various elements that go into making a successful sale.
First of all make the decision as to whether you want to use an estate agent or not. Generally an agent will receive 2.5-3% of the selling price and in return they will work aggressively to list and sell your home. If you decide against using an agent then you may be healthy to save thousands by handling the marketing and selling of your house yourself.
Try to get recommendations from friends and make sure that you interview several estate agents who specialise in selling property in your geographic area. Get a feel for how they work and how proactive they will be in marketing your home. Ask them to outline a strategy for making your house appear as captivating as possible.
Review the current listings acquirable in your area and based on these you should set a strategic asking price. Your chosen estate agent should be healthy to get comparative prices on nearby properties and then perform a a market analysis taking into statement factors such as size, location, condition and other elements in order to price it accurately. Make sure that you ask for the pricing analysis so that you can understand how the estate agent arrived at their valuation.
Ensure that you confirm with the agent that your house will be listed in the major local listings and that it will also have an online presence. It is also important to have a concise and professional looking fact sheet to help market the house.
Let your neighbours know that your home will be going up on the market and then hold a pre-open house gathering. Give your friends and neighbours a tour of the house and ask for their help in finding a buyer. It is surprising how many houses are sold purely through word of mouth so do make good use of the contacts you have.
As you get ready to show your house be sure that you carry out any required repairs and touch-ups on the interior and exterior of the house. It is vital that your home makes the best first impression doable so clean all of the windows, cut the grass and weed the flower beds.
Remove any unnecessary extra furniture as well as surround hangings or trinkets that could be distracting too potential buyers. It is doable for homes to have ‘too much good taste’, often neglecting the classic “less is more” mantra. If there are any walls that could use a fresh coat of paint then now is the time do it, with a neutral colour paint if possible.
When placing the ‘For sale’ sign in your front garden, make sure that you always have a plentiful supply of fact sheets to hand in case a passer by knocks on your door.
Keep your house spotless at all times as prospective buyers may turn up at an hours notice. Your agent should place a lockbox on your door so that they can acquire entrance when you are not in.
Establish how flexible you are willing to be on price and decide ahead of time by how much, if at all you are willing to drop the price. If you receive multiple offers then weigh up the pros and cons of each.
Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour, a leading Manchester Estate Agent.