In this country, we are traditionally regarded as being quite reserved and unassuming. But be assured, this is absolutely not a selling point when it comes to marketing your home for sale! You need to be able to stand out from the crowd if you want to achieve the full asking price – or even more – for your valuable property.
Don’t be backward about coming forward. It’s very much up to you to take the initiative when your house is up for sale. In a challenging market, you shouldn’t rely on your estate agent’s methods alone to ensure your property is given the maximum exposure to potential buyers.
Of course, it is their responsibility to produce professional, inviting listings and to network actively in order to promote your property to the widest possible audience. But once you have appointed your agent, you will need to keep lines of communication open, and don’t be afraid to make suggestions if you are not seeing the results you anticipated.
Perhaps you could draft a revised listing yourself, a punchy, pithy description that will attract new interest? Or why not ask if their fees would cover the cost of a professional photographer if you are concerned your home is not looking at its best on your marketing material.
Your house sale is at stake. Don’t be shy about making waves if you feel you’re not getting results. In this post, we will take a look at some of the things you can do in order to stand out in a tough property market. So, let’s take a look at some top tips.
Do your market research
Before you consider making any dramatic changes to your home to encourage a sale, it’s worth carrying out a bit of market research to find out who’s buying in your area and to discover the different properties for sale in the area at present. Do you live in a place that’s highly attractive to young couples just starting out? If so, consider pointing out the potential of your prized study as a potential nursery. Is the area popular with landlords renting out rooms or bedsits? Point out the potential for converting existing living rooms into bedrooms or where en-suite bathrooms could be fitted.
Make yourself knowledgeable about your locale. Have information about amenities at your fingertips. Couples with small children will want to know about popular, high achieving schools in the area, or leisure facilities such as recreation centres, parks and cinemas. Young professionals will probably be more interested in the nightlife, the bars, and restaurants. It may not be your bag, but you are selling to others, not to yourself.
Make sure your estate agent’s listing of your property is accompanied by details of the wider neighbourhood and not just the house itself. Better agencies will include great links to local resources and sources of information. Don’t be afraid to ask if not – it’s better than being sold short.
Market the potential of the space within your home
A prime factor in many people’s decision to move house is to gain more space. This is especially true if you are selling a home that has the potential to appeal to families. Think about whether you are conveying to buyers the full extent of the space you have available. Start off with affordable skip hire and get rid of all of the clutter, and then start thinking about how you can use each room to the fullest.
If you’ve lost a bedroom but gained a study, be aware that this can put some buyers off. In today’s market, a study is a luxury for many families. If you have time, borrow a single bed and dress the room as a bedroom from the outset. If it’s not possible to convert it back to its original use at short notice, show how the room can easily be used as a bedroom by having the dimensions to hand and illustrating how a single bed and wardrobes will fit in the future.
Clear all surfaces as much as possible. Clutter such as ornaments and knick-knacks, and appliances in the kitchen, will give the impression of less space than there actually is.
Remove any items of excess furniture – do you really need that nest of tables as well as the coffee table in the living room? Anything that takes up floor space will make the room less easy to manoeuvre around and can feel cramped.
Look at your living space with an objective eye and improve your chances of a sale.
Be prepared to market your entire neighbourhood, not just your own house
Yours may be the only house for sale in the street. But perhaps several of your neighbours are looking to move too – sometimes a lot of ‘for sale’ signs in the neighbourhood can create concern in a buyer’s mind. Why are so many people looking to escape from the area? Anticipate viewers’ worries and address them upfront. It helps to have a positive reason for why you and your family personally are planning to move. Perhaps you’re reluctant to leave the area but have to for a new job or to be closer to relatives.
You really don’t want potential buyers to think there is something wrong with the community you live in, though. Mentally – or on a piece of paper – list the advantages of the wider neighbourhood you live in – are there active community groups? Are the facilities great? Is the area generally quiet and restful to live in?
Of course, you shouldn’t actively tell untruths. But with a little thought, you should be able to come up with several key advantages of why this location and neighbourhood is an ideal one for your prospective buyer to consider moving into.
Hopefully, you now feel more prepared to market your property effectively in today’s market. You need to make an effort to stand out from the crowd. The more you put in, the more you will be rewarded.
