6 Tips to sell your home

A successful home sale takes more than tidying up before viewings (although obviously this is still very important!). The attitude with which you approach the situation can really make or break your sale, so here are our tips to help you prepare yourself in order to sell your home:

Make it easy to view your property

When someone is trying to arrange a viewing of your property, make sure you are as accommodating as possible. Each viewing is an opportunity to sell your home so it’s important to try not to miss any.

Don’t be too sensitive

Remember that potential buyers want to like your home; otherwise they wouldn’t bother to come and look at it. The chances are that they have a wish-list of features that they are looking for, which may have been written before they saw your house on the market. When you show potential buyers round your home, be prepared that they might point out any flaws your home has and ask probing questions. Don’t be offended if your house doesn’t turn out to be the one they are looking for.

Stay optimistic

It is easy to start feeling despondent if your property doesn’t attract offers as quickly as you’d hoped. Don’t be disheartened; if you are having difficulty, it may be worth rethinking your marketing strategy. Assess whether the property is competitively priced, whether your advertising reach is broad enough and don’t be afraid to discuss this with your estate agent. Having excellent marketing photos will also help to attract more viewers. You can read how to take great shots of your property in our moving advice section.

Be nice to your estate agent

Remember that in your property transaction, there is a lot that depends upon you having a good relationship with your estate agent. He or she will be more enthusiastic about contacting you if you communicate positively with them than if you moan at them. Trying to sell your home can be frustrating at times but try to encourage them rather than complain to them.

Keep things moving

A good solicitor will always keep you updated about your situation. It is reasonable to expect a transaction period of between 6 and 8 weeks to sell your property, although there are various complications that can slow down the process. A lack of communication can result in the transaction becoming stale, so keep in contact with your solicitor to make sure everything is proceeding as it should. Always update your estate agent with important news so they can pass the message on to your buyers.

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Communicate via your estate agent

Exchanging contact details with your buyer could be a big mistake. Your estate agent is there for a reason, and although sometimes they can drive you crazy, it is good to have somebody there who can be diplomatic if the situation gets stressful. Also, if your buyer wants to negotiate or has any difficult enquiries, having your estate agent to act as an intermediary will give you time to mull things over before you go back to them with your answer.

The most helpful thing you can do for yourself is try to approach everything with a positive attitude. If you give people your best, you are more likely to get the best back.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.