Selling Tips
Presentation of your property could mean the difference between a good price and a great price.
Whatever your motive for selling, the process can either be stress-free or tense and disappointing. The good news is that you have the ability to choose. There are four factors that will influence the outcome of any sale.
Timing
Buyers for a property can be found all year round however it's not often that a purchaser for your home is out there, just waiting for you to put your home on the market.
Timing, presentation, and advertising are all required to bring buyers and sellers together for the best result. Spring is often considered to be the best time to sell. It's a time of optimism and with the weather clearing, more potential buyers will be out and about. It is also a time when more sellers will put their homes on the market so there will be more competition.
Winter usually presents fewer buyers, but the buyers are usually more focussed on purchasing and traditionally there will be fewer homes on the market to choose from.
Prior to placing your home on the market, allow an additional two weeks to prepare both the property and the marketing material.
Presentation
A tidy home says "Welcome". Your home should be kept neat and tidy during the period of inspections. It should not necessarily be a "show place" but appear a comfortable home in which to live. Fresh flowers or indoor plants always brighten up a home.
While you’re cleaning, think about each room and what furniture really needs to be in it. Rooms look smaller when they are crowded. Clear out anything that's not needed to create a feeling of spaciousness. Make sure that all minor repairs are completed. Sticking doors and windows, loose door knobs, faulty plumbing, peeling paint or faulty flywire may affect your sale.
Let plenty of light into your home. Nothing improves atmosphere more than brightness. And on a dull day switch on some lights prior to arrival of prospective purchasers. A warm comfortable heated home on cold days adds a feeling of cosiness; on a hot day don't forget to turn on the air conditioner or fan (or simply let the breeze flow through). Avoid having too many people present during inspections. Be courteous but don't force conversation with a potential buyer.
The prospective purchaser wants to inspect your home - not pay a social call. As a general rule it is advisable to turn off radio and television sets during inspections as they can be very distracting. Keep your pets out of the way (preferably out of the house).
Let the buyer and agent talk, free of disturbances. Don't apologise for the appearance or condition of your home (this does nothing but emphasise the faults). Don't discuss the details of the transaction or allow a prospective purchaser to inspect your home without your agent.
Method of Sale
If you submit your property for Auction this means that prospective purchasers will bid against one another at a date and time suitable to you.
You can set a reserve price, which is the minimum you will accept, and once bidding has passed that level you know you have a sale, as it will be unconditional and a predetermined deposit must be paid on the day.
Sale by Private Treaty means that you set a price at which your property is to be marketed to the public through the marketing plan agreed to by you and the agent.
Home Sellers Guide - Download FREE
First National Real Estate can help you sell your home quickly, for the best possible price.
Click here to view the Home Sellers Guide
QUALITY ASSURANCE RE-ACCREDITATION
We are very proud to advise our Quality Assurance system has been re-accredited for the next 12 months.
Our first Accreditation Gold Award was in 2000, and each year since then, we have been required to provide to First National, evidence of regular meetings, problem identification and constant review of evaluation by an independent Auditor. Upon re-accreditation, we are authorized to display the Quality Assurance tick.
The benefits for our clients and customers is an assurance that we conduct ourselves the right way, the same way every time we do something. If in the event there is a problem, we review the circumstances and our actions to ensure it does not happen again. Our QA system is a training and review mechanism to ensure the best possible results for our clients. In the absence of the staff member our clients are accustomed to dealing with, they can be assured that other staff will conduct their business the same way.
We are also members of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria and agree to abide by the Institute Code of Conduct. It is with pride we display the tick, and we thank you for the opportunity of working with you regarding your real estate needs.
