To Sell or Not to Sell

It may not seem like the best time to sell your home when the housing market seems so unstable, but people are selling their homes and in some cases very quickly.  Perhaps you need a bigger house to accommodate a growing family or perhaps you are looking to downsize.  Whatever your reason for selling your home, sometimes putting it off just isn’t an option.

If you have decided to take the plunge there is a lot you can do to facilitate the sale of your house and most of our tips won’t cost you a penny.

Ready, Steady, Stop!

Before you go racing ahead calling the estate agents to pop up a ‘For Sale’ board, a little planning is required.  Preparation is essential before you put your house on the market and there are many areas where you can save time, money and stress.  Firstly, make sure you can afford to move.  If you are selling your home in order to purchase a new one you will almost certainly need a new mortgage and this could mean an increase in your monthly mortgage payment and other outgoings.  Getting your finances in place is one of the most important things you can do before you put your house on the market and it will save a lot of heartache in the long run.

Choosing a Good Estate Agent

Finding a trustworthy and productive estate agent can be difficult, but they do exist.  Many people choose to get a number of quotes from local estate agents and this is a good idea if you want to get the best deal.  Many estate agents will offer you a discounted price if you use them as sole agents on the agreement that you will not advertise your property with any other agent.  Don’t sign any agreement until you are happy with the fees and the marketing process your estate agent is going to use to promote and ultimately sell your home.

Getting the Price Right

It’s important that you are happy with the valuation your estate agent has given you.  If they have priced your house too high then you are unlikely to get any interest let alone offers and you certainly don’t want your home to be priced too low.  A good estate agent will have researched the market and know exactly how much your house is worth based on similar properties that are selling in your area.  You can also conduct some research yourself using one of a number of property valuation websites.

Good First Impressions = Second Viewings

It’s surprising how many people don’t bother to tidy up before a viewing or clear away clutter.  When people come to view your house they want to imagine themselves living there and lots of toys or clothes scattered around the floor can really put viewers off.  That’s not to say you need to live in a show home until you sell your house, but making the effort to clean and clear away can really make the difference and give viewers a lasting first impression.  Getting your sales pitch right is also important.  Brag about your favourite parts of your home, big up the short walk to the station and be a downright show-off about your garden being a suntrap.  Be enthusiastic and think about what made you fall in love with your house the moment you saw it.

It really is possible to sell your home if you put your heart and soul into it.  People are buying right now and whilst the market is slow a little patience and planning could be all you need to be in the running to receive an offer.