Is there anything worse than an overbearing advice giver? Imagine how the stress of trying to sell your house is multiplied with an overly enthusiastic agent telling you exactly what to do and what not to do! In the end, you could feel that there is so much that you have to change, and clean, and repair, that your house will never sell.
Don’t be despondent! The right estate agent will gently point you in the right direction. Soon you will have your property looking its best and ready for viewing. Yes, of course there are sure-fire tips and techniques that will help you to get that much wanted sale, and as a seller you would be well advised to take heed of them. Whether you are listing your property with an online estate agent or going the old-fashioned route, some strategies really help you create the perfect atmosphere to perk a potential buyer’s interest.
Less Is More
Remember the overly enthusiastic agent? Well, as much as they could be giving you nightmares about the state of your property and what you should do to spruce it up to get that sale, they can also turn away a potential buyer. How so? As surprising as it may sound, one of the strategies used by agents is to spoon feed the potential buyer by overloading them with information as they walk them through the property. Stop! By giving potential buyers all possible scenarios about every room is … well, it’s overload!
It’s a much better strategy to allow potential buyers the space to immerse themselves in the process, daydream and figure it out for themselves. They must be given the opportunity to imagine themselves living in the space: will the children be happy swimming in that pool with Mom and Dad watching from the lovely deck; is the extra room the perfect study area for a high school kid facing Matric exams; won’t the cars fit perfectly into the double garage?
Not surprisingly, daydreams like these are best enabled when the space is clean and clutter-free. So, by all means, take the enthusiastic agent’s advice about tidying up and cleaning up. Less clutter means more space to dream.
You might even take things one step further and freshen up some dull and dreary areas with a coat of paint – in a neutral and calming shade, of course! Yes, if you are planning to live here for another five or so years go ahead and paint the walls of the kitchen in your favourite shade of neon blue. Truthfully though, this is not the best buyer-attracting technique.
Online Real Estate Listing
If you are going to post a listing online, the prospective buyer’s first contact with the property happens without you being there to guide them. This is where great photos will make all the difference.
The one thing you cannot be minimalistic with is imagery. Your pictures of the property must be clear, bright and appealing. Grab the attention of buyers with pictures that allow them to imagine themselves in the space and they will be all the more eager to book a viewing.