What is every prospective house seller’s worst nightmare? No, not giant spiders – it’s a house that nobody wants to buy. If you’re struggling to sell your property, what can you do about it? While the nuclear answer may be to re-list it with another estate agent, before you press that particular big red button there are some things you should make sure you’ve done first.
Declutter your property
Remember that prospective buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in your home. The aim is to retain the character of the place without suffocating their imagination. To help them, tidy away or throw out anything that looks messy or takes up too much room. Everyday objects should be stored neatly, while nonessential or bulky furniture should be moved or removed to create much-sought-after space.
This also goes for outside areas, so tidy away that croquet set and give the lawn a trim while you’re at it.
Deep clean your house
Nobody is going to be impressed by a dirty house, which means your motto should be ‘Make it clean and keep them keen’. Before viewings begin, the house should be hoovered, scrubbed and polished to perfection, or as close as humanly possible.
Refurbish where needed
Sometimes cleaning and tidying isn’t enough to make a house look its best. To help give it a new lease of life, repaint any dull or faded surfaces, replace worn old carpets or install new flooring, and mend any other features that are past prime, such as roof tiles, window frames, or fencing.
Take new photos if necessary
Have you checked the photos of your property show it in its best light? Perhaps they were taken on a dull, cloudy day, or the angles make the rooms look small. Remember your house is competing with all the other properties listed online or in the estate agent’s window, so it needs to stand out.
Also, if a listing has been up for a while, it may need new photos to give it a refresh.
Is the asking price right?
While cosmetic touches may make the difference, if a buyer feels your property is too overvalued, a lick of paint and a new carpet won’t persuade them to meet your price.
Make sure your house is properly valued by first doing some online research into the values of similar properties that have sold in your area. Then follow this up by getting valuations from at least three different estate agents. Some will price high to try to win your business, while others will go low for a quick sale, so a range of valuations will give you a better idea of your property’s true value.
Is your estate agent performing?
While it’s up to you to get your property ready for sale, it’s your estate agent’s job to find the right buyer for it.
If you’re unhappy with your agent’s efforts, the first thing to do is let them know about it. It may be that an honest discussion is enough to make them change strategy or redouble their efforts. A good sign is when an agent stays in regular touch with feedback on viewings and progress updates – you shouldn’t need to keep chasing them for this.
If you feel you’ve given your estate agent a fair crack of the whip but don’t have faith things will improve, then it’s probably time to give them notice and relist with another agent.
When choosing an estate agent, you should be looking for someone that’s local, knowledgeable, competent, and with great customer service. Check out their website, social media and online reviews for customer testimonials and success stories. Talk to friends, family and neighbours to see if they’d recommend their last agent. And when you finally meet with one, make sure to ask lots of questions to get a proper sense of their character and competence, and let them know exactly what you expect of them; that way everyone knows where they stand, and a positive outcome is more likely.