HOW TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY BEFORE SUMMER 2022!
Selling your home can be one of the most stressful things you do in your life but it needn’t be! If you have a plan and strategy in place, things will run more smoothly.
At Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents we want to help you make your property journey as hassle free as possible, right before you’ve even begun. So here are our top tips:
Seller's Checklist
Get your solicitor arranged right at the start:
Don’t wait until you have found a buyer as this will add to the length of the transaction.
Dig out your property papers:
The solicitors will want these, so a trip up to the loft now, will save time later!
Leasehold properties:
If you are selling a leasehold property, be aware that the management pack can take months to put together, so again this should be ordered by your solicitor when you go on the market. Do not wait until you find a buyer as that will extend the transaction time.
Mortgages:
Speak to a mortgage broker. Even if you are in a fixed term it may be that there is a better deal available, even factoring in redemption penalties.
Valuations:
Get two or three valuations! A few valuations will not only help ascertain the property’s value but can also help you decide which agent you want representing you and your home.
Prepare your property:
Tidy outside (building and gardens), tidy inside (fill in cracks and de-clutter).
Always remember that first impressions count!
Top Tips For Selling Your Property
Be smart with your pricing:
Listen to your agent! If you are being advised correctly, then it shouldn’t matter what time of year you are trying to sell. If your agent is working hard for you then there should be no ‘quiet periods’ in the housing market. Make sure your agent is marketing your property on all the online portals as well as their own social media pages.
De-clutter:
To help to ensure you’re in your new home as soon as possible, it is wise to have a good de-clutter before you start having viewings. Clear out any items you’re not proposing to take with you when you leave the property. This frees up more space to showcase your property, and saves you time when you’re packing up to move.
Remove anything hanging on or placed behind doors (furniture included). If a door can’t be opened fully, it gives the illusion that the room is smaller!
Show off the parking assets:
People don’t want to spend time looking for somewhere to park in an unfamiliar area, especially if it’s in the dark. If there is limited parking and there is a driveway, park around the corner and let the purchaser park in the driveway.
Remove any rubbish and tidy up outside:
The outside of your home is the first thing people will see. Clear. Neat. Tidy.
These are the best first impressions your property can offer. Clear out any junk from the front or back garden. Make sure the grass is cut and flower beds are tidy. If it’s winter time, clear any dying shrubs and flowers that could kill a potential sale!
Blank canvas:
If you are planning to ‘refresh’ the property with a coat of paint before you market it, choose more neutral colours that allow buyers to see how they can make their own mark on the property.
Let there be light! Before viewings, make sure curtains are open if it is during the day, or lights are on at night time. This gives off a welcoming first impression. Also, it may seem a tiny detail, but make sure all the lights around the house work!
It can be off-putting for a potential buyer to see ‘little things’ that already need fixing.
Spick and span:
Make sure beds are made, cupboard doors and drawers are shut and keep counters, work surfaces, and the kitchen sink clear. Even minor details such as making sure toilet seats are down and towels are neatly folded in the bathroom, create a positive impression.
De-fume!:
If you are a smoker, consider smoking outside for the period that you are marketing as the smell can put people off. A vase of freshly cut flowers on display is often a welcoming feature with a pleasant smell!
Animal free zone:
We may be a nation of animal lovers, but pets aren’t included with the sale and often distract buyers from focussing on the house. You want your buyers looking at the property and thinking about how they could live there, rather than thinking about how they get the smell of dog out of the carpet or the sound of a meowing cat.
Less is more:
Try and keep the number of people that are at home to a minimum when viewings take place. Where possible try and arrange viewings during the week and within school hours. Having too many people in the house can make a property seem smaller!
Go out of the house!
Let the agent conduct the viewing. The buyer is buying the property not you! Sellers often add very little to the viewing and indeed can hinder honest feedback from buyers not wishing to offend the owner of the property.
Contemplating a move?
If you're contemplating a move, the best starting point is to get an idea of the market value. We are always happy to visit, at a time to suit and give you our professional opinion on price.
There is no charge or obligation whatsoever, and any discussions we have are in complete confidence.
Get in touch today on 020 8958 1118 click here for a quick 60 second 'Instant Valuation'.
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