When it comes to preparing your home for the market, it’s time to think objectively and not get too emotionally attached. Your goal now should be to get the best deal on your property, and the ways you can increase its chance at selling.
- Research Your Real Estate Agents
Having the right agent you can depend on is going to make a difference to a process which is stressful at the best of times. Having the support of a real estate agent who knows how best to market your home and draw in the most interest will really help the process.
Be sure to do your research and weigh up your options without going for the very first one you see.
- Get a Second Opinion
When getting your house valuation completed, it’s a good idea to get more than one for comparison. Valuations can vary depending on the real estate agent, so to find the best average asking price for you, it’s a good idea to have a few valuations to decide between, rather than taking the first you receive — which might also be the lowest.
- Consider Moving into a Rental Property
If you’re waiting for your home to sell and are also waiting for your own new property, this can cause a hold up in the chain. If you’ve had offers and interests on your property but you’re not able to move until you have found a new home, it may be a good idea to move into a rental property while you still look for your new home. That way, you’ve more of a chance by still making the sale and not put off any potential buyers who may not want to wait for an indefinite amount of time for you to find somewhere new.
You can always find the cheapest rental property and put larger items into storage until you find somewhere new. Be sure to use a storage unit size guide to best understand the storage space you might need.
- Work on Curb Appeal
Of course, improving your property in any capacity is important, and your interior will need to be optimized, too. However, curb appeal should be your focus as soon as possible, as this is the first area potential buyers will see. Before even stepping through your front door, buyers may already have made a decision whether they are interested in your property or not. You may even get potential buyers who take a drive past to view the home without booking an official viewing, in which case what they see outside will make all the difference.
Work on curb appeal by:
- Updating any paint jobs, such as fencing
- Use plants and flowers to build color and appeal
- Consider investing in a new front door
- Have a property number plate installed
- Update your windows (if needed)
- Keep driveways and pathways clean
- Make Yourself Scarce During Viewings
You want to avoid being present in the property during viewings to allow potential buyers to move around freely and begin to feel like it might be their new home. Having you present at viewings with the real estate agent may cause potential buyers to feel pressured or uncomfortable if they don’t like something about the property or need to ask certain questions.
