WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!
The property market is a very competitive one and there’s no excuse for a lazy estate agent. However, there’s also no excuse for a idle seller either!
If your property, big or small, (relatively) low value or (extremely) high value is on the market and going no-where… fast, take stock and take back some control.
It’s all about marketing.
We’re used to living in a society where products are targeted, marketed, to appeal to a specific buying audience – why should your ‘product’ be any different?
90%, yes 90% of viewers cannot visualise how a property could look when faced with the way it is presented to them. That means 1 in 10 can’t imagine how your empty (or cluttered) rooms could suit their family perfectly!
It’s not as though you haven’t been deluged with TV programmes, ‘property gurus’ and press articles telling you how to sell your home…
So what could you, or your agent, do differently?
Make yourself a coffee, grab a note pad and pen, jot down some of your own ideas and, over the next couple of days I’ll tell you if you were right 😉
I’ll be watching this eagerly – as you know I thought I’d got it right and so did my Agent, but once again I learned the hard way – why did it take me 6 wks and 9 lost viewings before I sought your opinion? Less than 2 weeks later and Sale Agreed to strong buyer at a good price.
Thanks Helen – I will never sell another property without calling you first – and definitely before I see an Estate Agent!
Jo
Thanks Jo – thrilled we got a good result!
I expect your answers will be theamed around presentation, which of course is important, I would (of course, being an agent) say Price, because every property will sell when it’s at the price that someone thinks it’s good value for the money.
But back to presentation, I find many vendors do not spend the money to create a fabulous and welcoming home, they justify not replacing an old bathroom or kitchen saying the new owner may not like it and just rip it out. However in the current climate ordinary folk don’t always have the funds to do what is required. My bug bear is they want my advice and want to sell, but just won’t take the medicine!
My personal presentation tips are (well here are just a few, because I could fill a pamphlet on the subject).
First impressions count – outside impression or kerb appeal, people will often drive past first to take a peek. So front gardens, fences and front door must look good and tidy. Paint the front door red, blue or black
No. 2 clean the house, declutter and put the toilet seat down
No. 3 make rooms spacious, remove some furniture if it’s crowded, let light in the windows or use artificial lights
I will stop there, so we see what others have to say!!
Well you’re right Paul ‘some’ of it of course, as far as I am concerned, relates to presentation but other things need to be taken into account – price definitely one of them!