Have you been wondering why your viewers have not immediately fallen in love with your home or willing to pay top whack to live there? Well, there are people out there to help you.
According to new book by “home staging expert” Elaine Penhaul, who has used her experience of presenting homes for sale to write a new book, selling your home should be divided into three stages.
1. Preparation
You, as the seller, need to do some groundwork before thinking about selling your home. Home staging – by way of decluttering and getting the decoration correct – can add value and attract more potential buyers. Your personal taste is irrelevant; remember that both the inside and outside of the house should look attractive to someone looking for a new property, not you. Any “distinctive” decorations you may have may not to be everyone’s taste (perhaps a brightly coloured wall or busy carpet) so you should consider changing to something more generally acceptable to selling. Neutral (bland) is good on this occasion.
Don’t forget the outside of your property – a tidy and clutter-free space will always be preferable to bad paintwork, dirty windows and doors, messy lawns, weedy paving and overgrown trees and shrubs. Many house-hunters will drive by a potential property before they get in touch so you will need to keep your outdoor space in good conditions while you are selling.
Home staging won’t cover up any real issues with your property – ask a Chartered Surveyor for a Single Fault Assessment if there are issues you need to address before selling.
Once you’ve done all you can to make your house presentable and attractive to potential home buyers, you can ask estate agents for an assessment and quotation of their fees. Invite three agents to do this, so you can compare their valuations of your home to ensure the asking price is acceptable and sensible, as well as the level of service they offer and fees, as well as their initial opinion of your property. You may find yourself carrying out more preparation once you have their views. In a market where estate agents have few properties on their books, you may find they provide you with a high valuation while offering a low fee – to get your business. However, if you want to sell your home over a reasonable timescale it is important to price it right from the start.
There is a “golden window” of two weeks after a house is first released online, and survey data shows that houses that have been reduced in price can take significantly longer to sell.
2. Promotion
Promoting the sale of your property is largely the responsibility of your estate agent, but you have work to do too. You don’t need to be an expert in marketing, but you will need excellent photos and possibly videos. Video viewings are an effective way for buyers to explore your property from a distance and can help avoid viewings by those unsure of what they’re seeking.
If photos and videos aren’t included in your agent’s fees it may be worth approaching a professional photographer for assistance.
Viewers will look at the property from their own perspective. Not everyone likes pets or children, so find somewhere else for them during a viewing if at all possible. Make surfaces and floors clean and clear of personal items to let the viewer imagine what the home would be like with their own family and possessions in place.
You might consider adding some outdoor furniture and a couple of healthy plant pots to show your garden’s possibilities.
3. Progression
If your sale depends on buying another property and you need to secure mortgage funding, get a mortgage in principle in place before you try to sell. You should also apply for an Energy Performance Certificate before you put your home on the market.
Once you have found a buyer, the conveyancers for both parties will tie all the various loose ends together. Any pre-contract enquiries, searches and other legal requirements will be carried out by them but you can help things along by quickly responding to any queries and allowing property professionals, such as your buyer’s Chartered Surveyor, early access to the property.