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March 11, 2016

Tips for Successful Selling of your Property

I have been looking at ways to help people sell and promote their properties and I would love to share some tips with you that I found in Forbes. You might find one or more of these points helpful when it comes to selling your property and the Barrington Homes Team will be happy to help you.

  1. Don’t ask for too much money.

You know what you paid for the property, but that doesn’t mean that it’s still worth that amount—or that it’s increased in value since you bought it. Your property is only worth what the market is willing to pay you. It doesn’t matter what’s in it and it doesn’t matter what your mortgage is.  Reputable Real Estate Agents have their eye on the market and know what kind of prices property—just like yours—are worth now. Pricing too high will discourage interested parties from making an offer and your property could sit for months, which isn’t the goal.

What to do: Have a few established Real Estate Agents in your area give you a price (or get a comparative market analysis), and—this is key—don’t ignore them. Keep in mind that even if you’ve made expensive improvements to the home (granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, glass curtains, jacuzzi baths), you may not get your money back if you’re the only property in the urbanisation with such upgrades.

  1. Don’t skip the marketing.

You may think that all you have to do is take one photo of the house, stick a “For Sale” sign in your garden and buyers will come pouring in the door.  The only way to guarantee that you’re going to get the highest price for the property is to use all of the marketing options available to you, such as internet marketing, social chatter, websites and direct marketing.  The more people who see your house, the better your chances are of selling it.  In an age when buyers start their searches online, counting on drive-bys and word of mouth isn’t enough anymore.

What to do: Don’t wait until the last minute to notify a Real Estate Agent that your property is for sale. Give them time to photograph the property on a day the sun is out, for example. In fact, if you live in a seasonal area and you know that you’re going to put the property on the market in February, have photos taken in September, when the gardens may be at their best.

  1. Don’t go it alone, unless you know what you’re doing.

If you aren’t a seasoned pro at selling property, let the professionals take the reins.  Estate Agents know what is selling around you and for what price. They can tell you whether an offer is reasonable and help you negotiate smartly.

What to do: If you can, get recommendations from friends or colleagues is always a great start and then go with someone who have a proven track record in the immediate area and not a faceless organisation on-line who are not knowledgeable of your community.

  1. Don’t neglect to fix things that are broken.

If sellers walk through your property and spot a handful of items that need immediate repair, they’re going to wonder how well you’ve maintained the things they can’t see.  The entry way is a big tip-off. Got a loose hand rail on the steps, sagging screen door or jiggly door knob? Fix them. Clear your gutters, patch holes in your walls and address dripping taps.

What to do: Do a walk-through of your own home, pretending that you’re seeing it for the first time. What things have you always meant to fix? Now is the time. Spend a few weekends dealing with all of those niggling projects to get your home in shape.

  1. Don’t get emotionally involved.

Yes, it’s your property. Yes, you sweated blood and tears to get it just the way you wanted it. Unfortunately, that does not make it someone else’s “perfect,” particularly when you’ve made some unique decorating decisions. You want the space to look as neutral as possible, so buyers can envision themselves in the space.   So even if those teal walls in the bedroom look knock-out great with your duvet, they probably won’t match anyone else’s things.   Let go of the features you love and make it a house most people could love—and that might mean painting all of the walls a soft, neutral colour.

What to do: Have an Estate Agent walk through your property, and when they point out things to you, make those changes as it will make it more marketable. Listen to them. Start to think of your property as a commodity, not an extension of your identity. If buyers don’t love it, it’s not a personal insult. It’s simply a deal that didn’t work out.

  1. Don’t leave your stuff everywhere.

You want buyers to feel like they could move into your house tomorrow—with their things.  Your collectibles, photos, childrens toys on floors and utility bills make the space feel a little too personal.

What to do: Before you put the property on the market, get a few boxes and grab every extraneous thing you see: photos, knick-knacks, books. If it helps, take a few pictures of each room, and try to view them through a buyer’s eyes. What could you remove from each room to make the space feel bigger?

  1. Don’t get offended by a low offer.

Just because someone came in with a really low bid is no reason to walk off in a huff. Now it is time to negotiate. Buyers are trying to buy your property for the lowest price possible and you can’t blame them for trying. In other words, it’s not personal, and it’s not a slam on your housekeeping. It’s a business transaction.

What to do: Come back with a counteroffer.  Typically, most buyers will come back with a second offer, which is a better indication of what they’re really willing to pay.

  1. Don’t lose a sale over something stupid.

It’s possible to get 99% of the way through a home sale, only to stall out at the end over a minor detail. Don’t be that seller.

What to do: Unless it’s an heirloom that’s been in your family for generations, remember that you can probably find another one—but you may not find another buyer at that price. To be safe, if there are things you’re feeling like you can’t live without, such as the curtains you found at a crazy flea market or the light fixture you discovered at an antiques store, replace them with something else before you show the house.

Hope you found this helpful and if we can help in any way, get in touch with the team at our email info@barringtonhomes.eu.  Happy selling!!!

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