Tips for selling your property

When you’re looking to move home, finding a new property and arranging a remortgage is only half the process. The other half, which many people underestimate the importance of, is selling your property.

Selling your own property can be harder than you may think, and in some cases can force you to delay your move, which can potentially break a deal if it goes on for too long. When your home is up for sale, you are technically in competition with several other sellers – so it’s important to do what you can to make your home stand out from the crowd. 

Tip 1 – Sell at a realistic price

One of the most common traps sellers fall into immediately is overpricing. You should be able to get a rough idea of how much your home is worth by comparing it with other recent sales in your area, but it’s also a good idea to get a number of valuations from different estate agents and take an average.

If there is something in your home that needs work done to it, such as damp problems or old electrics, don’t try to conceal it and sell at a higher price. Surveys will return any imperfections in your property, and anything you’ve hidden will only cause potential buyers to back out. 

Tip 2 - Make home improvements

If there is anything in your home you think buyers might not be happy with, home improvements are a great way of potentially increasing both value and saleability. However, it’s worth researching the costs beforehand – some home improvements can cost more than they will add in value, in which case it may not be worthwhile. 

Tip 3 - De-personalise your rooms

You may love the 4ft teddy bear that takes pride of place in your living room, but prospective buyers might not. From a buyer’s perspective, your home is a blank canvas which they aim to make into their own space – so any unusual items in your home could put people off.

Before a viewing, aim to get your home looking clean and tidy, and temporarily remove any items which you think might prevent buyers visualising your home as their own. 

Tip 4 – Pay attention to detail

If you’ve been living in your home for some time, it’s easy to miss some of the small imperfections: marks on walls, scuffs on floors, leaking taps, etc. But a prospective buyer will be paying close attention to everything around them. A quick lick of paint and other small jobs can often make all the difference when it comes to attracting buyers.  

Tip 5 – Advertise well

Typically, your estate agent will take care of advertising your property. However, it makes sense to keep a close eye on your advertising – an incorrect description of your home, for example, could jeopardise your chances of a sale, while unflattering photos could give potential buyers the wrong impression of your home. 

By ensuring your advertising reflects your home to its best potential, you could improve your chances of a sale and speed along the process.

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