Are you thinking of moving? Is this the year of New Year New Home?
With the housing market still buoyant it may be the perfect time to take advantage and put your home up for sale. There are lots of buyers at the moment and buyers are becoming more and more discerning. In order to give you the best chance to create that all important first impression and get the best price for your property we have some tips to help you along on your selling journey.
Getting the Right Estate Agent
If you haven’t yet already spoken to an agent and asked them to come round and value your property, get that booked in as your first step.
Look into agents that have experience of selling in your area, they will know what types of buyers will be attracted to your property and what is currently popular.
Ask your agent how close to asking price they think your property will sell for and also ask how quickly their properties are selling.
Don’t be immediately won over by the highest valuation, ask your agent for evidence to back up the selling price they have given you. You can also look at the recent sold prices in your area to get and indication of a realistic price. The first few weeks up for sale are very important and getting the pricing right will give your property the best exposure and interest to the buyers currently looking in your area.
You should look for quick responses to your telephone and email enquiries, you want an agent that is enthusiastic about selling your property and an indication that they will respond quickly to prospective buyers.
The fee that the agent charges should be considered along with the value of your property and also the amount of time it will take them to sell it. Remember that a cheaper fee isn’t always the best option, a quicker and more stress free and efficient sale may be worth paying a little more on the commission fee.
De-Cluttering, Minor Repairs and Presentation
You will want to spend time decluttering your home, a buyer will want to walk in to your home and picture themselves living there, this can be difficult for some if there are lots of clutter or personal items in the house.
If you have a lot of stuff, consider renting a storage unit and moving some of your things temporarily whilst you show people around your house. A few months storage and a few hundred pounds could mean a quicker sale and higher price obtained overall.
Think about who your buyer may be, are you selling a trendy town centre apartment to a young professional couple or are you selling a family home? How you present your rooms can help (or sometimes hinder) a buyers vision of themselves living in your property.
Make any small repairs that need to be carried out so that your prospective home buyers will see that your property has been well maintained, mend that broken garden fence panel that you have been meaning to fix, that peeling wallpaper, or that lightbulb in the dining room that you have been meaning to replace, will all help to improve your sale-abilty of your property.
Make your house look as light and airy as possible, open all curtains and blinds and put lights on when the agents is photographing your home.
Ensure bathrooms are clean, mould free and tidy. Putting out fresh towels and bath mats before a viewing and putting away toiletries will all help.
Kitchens should also be clean and tidy, clear gadgets off your worktops to show off the space that your kitchen has.
If you have pets, remember that not everyone is a pet lover and so ensure that pet hair is cleaned up and beds/litter trays are tucked out of sight.
Once you have received your realistic valuation from your estate agent, contact your mortgage adviser here at Bluebell Mortgages so that they can help find out how much you can borrow to take the next step on the property ladder so you can start your own dream house hunt.
Contact Us today for your Free Initial Consultation 01473 213312
▢ Contact Estate Agent
▢ Contact Mortgage Adviser and get your finance in place
▢ Declutter House
▢ Clean & Tidy rooms
▢ Clean Windows
▢ Think about presentation
▢ Tidy Garden
▢ Make minor repairs
▢ Remove Pet accessories
