When it comes to selling your home, the first and most important principle to understand is:
You get one chance to do it right.
Houses are at their most popular when they first go on the market. So you want to avoid making initial compromises that could have a negative impact on the final result.
What does this look like in practice?
Make sure your price is right from the start. Invest in professional photography and put lots of information online to make it easy for buyers to fall in love with your property.
Many owners try and test the market first with an exceedingly high price expectation or poor quality marketing. Both of which can create a situation where you miss out on the best buyers in the market, jeopardising your ability to secure a premium result.
The next most important principle:
Your home deserves the 5-star treatment.
Sometimes owners feel like it's not worth investing in marketing or following a multi-week strategy because their house isn't renovated or even 'above average'. It's time to let go of that feeling. Your home is a major financial asset and you deserve to get the best possible result. That means you need professional marketing and a representative who has your best interests in focus at all times.
Now that you have the right mindset in place, there are specific steps you can follow to increase your chances of a great outcome:
1. Declutter.
Remove as much stuff as possible to improve the feel of your home. Hire a storage locker if you need to. Decluttering is the no.1 activity to spend time on if you want to maximise the value of your home.
2. Focus on small improvements.
Painting, gardening and house-washing give you the best return on investment. Make sure your paths and driveway are spotless too. You get one chance to make a first impression.
3. Tick off as many small repairs as possible before going on the market.
The sellers who get the best results are often the ones who make it easy for buyers to fall in love with their home. Hire a handy person to fix anything around your home that needs some TLC, like a gate that doesn't close right or a window latch that doesn't work. Your home doesn't have to be perfect by any means, the goal here is just to take care of the easy jobs to improve your end result.
4. List with an agent who is real with you.
Many owners tick all the boxes above and then end up listing with the cheapest agent, or one who promises an unrealistically high price. Real estate professionals are not a commodity and hiring a good one could have a massive positive influence on your final sale price. As the old knight says in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:
"Choose Wisely".
Look for a salesperson with a proven marketing process. One who asks lots of questions and takes an interest in your situation. Look for a professional who gives genuine feedback on your home, who is brave enough to tell you what you should do, not just what you want to hear.
Ready to make a move?
It would be a privilege to interview for the role of marketing your home. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation. We can answer any questions you have on the process and provide tips on how to add maximum value before going on the market.
