Tuesday 12 July 2016

Top tips for first-time sellers

When it comes to advice for first-time buyers, there is a wealth of information out there to tap into. The same, however, cannot be said for first-time sellers, who are rather neglected and ignored.

There seems to be this assumption that first-time sellers will automatically know exactly how the process works, even allowing for the fact that they’ve never sold a home before.

At Sandra Davidson, we have sought to put this right by coming up with some top tips for people who are selling their home for the first time. 


Choose your agent wisely

Arguably the most important thing to get right, given how closely you will be working with this person in order to get your home sold.

There is no getting away from it, selling a house can sometimes be a slow, complicated and time-consuming process – not always, but sometimes – so it’s vital that you have a cool head to guide you through. This is where an experienced, knowledgeable estate agent really comes into their own, utilising their familiarity with the local market/area to get your home sold for the best possible price, in a timely, professional manner.

A good agent will help to find buyers for your home, make the process as smooth and hassle-free as possible and allow you to overcome any barriers and issues that occur along the way.

Depersonalise

A home that feels too personal or lived-in is unlikely to have significant appeal to prospective buyers – after all, they will want to imagine themselves living there and that is less likely if the home is full of photos, knick knacks, personal items and clutter.

Of course, there is a difficult balance to strike. You don’t want your home to come across as dull and characterless, but you don’t want buyers to feel like they are intruding either. Depersonalise and declutter as much as you can, while trying to ensure that your home is still bright, attractive and welcoming. 

Get the asking price right

Granted, not something that is easy to do. Set it too low and your risk selling yourself short, but set it too high and you run the risk of putting would-be buyers off.

It’s a very difficult balance to strike, but it’s another area where an experienced and knowledgeable estate agent can lend a hand, using their knowledge of the local market and other variables to set a fair and reasonable asking price. 

Target your demographic

As a first-time seller, it’s highly likely that you will be selling your first home to first-time buyers. More often than not, first-time sellers will be moving from a starter home to something a little bit bigger – this might be because of starting a family, the need for more space or another reason entirely.

Either way, your main demographic when it comes to selling is likely to be young professionals in their 20s and 30s, people who will be searching for properties – first and foremost – on their phones, tablets and other devices.

This means, of course, that you will need to ensure that your property has a considerable presence online, on the major portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla – where many first-time buyers head first when it comes to browsing for property.

In order to make sure your property stands out from the crowd, your online ad needs to be bright, punchy and engaging, immediately piquing the interest of buyers when they first lay eyes on it.
Equally, your home needs to look up to scratch – clean, tidy, welcoming and attractive – when would-be buyers start to view your home. If your property isn’t in tip-top condition, your chances of selling are that much lower.

To find out more about how Sandra Davidson can help get your home sold, whether you’re a first-time seller or someone who has done it many times before, please get in contact with us on 0208 551 0211.
We have long been recognised as the leading independent estate agent in Redbridge and will do all we can to get your home sold for the best possible price. If you would like an estimate of your property’s current worth, check out our free and instant online valuation tool.  

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