Selling Your Home Faster
Top tips to help sell your home faster
There is rarely a perfect time to sell a house, so sometimes it’s just best to do it when it suits you. We have put together the following guide to help you navigate through the process of selling your house.
Property Presentation
You want to present your home, when its looking at its best. It is helpful to reduce clutter and minimise personal belongings, to ensure each room appears spacious and inviting. You should also pay attention to the kerbside and entrance of your home; the more tidy and welcoming it is at open homes, the better.
Many sellers go to the extent of hiring a home staging company to bring in more modern and aspirational pieces or you can restyle with your own furnishings.
Minimise personal belongings
Reduce clutter
Fresh furnishings - like a new throw or cushions
Fresh flowers
According to Property Value, the five things that make up the value of your home are:
Land
Integrity of building structure
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Landscaping
Before getting a property valuation, look for ways to optimise the presentation of these areas first. If you prefer to get a real estate appraisal for establishing a price estimate, a good real estate agent will advise what areas to prioritise and how far to go with spending money, if any.
Ideally any investment you make in improvements will yield a 1:1 (dollar) return or higher, although some improvements will help sell the home faster even if they don’t add considerably more value such as fresh paint and new carpet or floorings.
Real Estate Agent choice
We recommend getting as much quality information to help you choose your licensed real estate agent. Industry experience, recent customer reviews or word of mouth, conduct and service standards cannot be underestimated. Agent Finder NZ can do all this for you for free.
Choose the most effective method of sale
Talk with your agent about the most effective method of sale for your home. Some houses sell by tender, auction (on or off site) or they are priced. Prepare yourself by getting the right information about methods of sale from the Real Estate Authority. Your agent should explain each option available for you, specific to your property. They will then make a recommendation which should also explain why this is the best course of action for your property.
Approve the marketing
Make sure you check and request your sign off and approval of the marketing material your agent will use before it goes live. If the agent wishes to make any changes to the marketing you have agreed to, your agent must get your approval, in writing.
This is a requirement by the industry authority and will ensure that incorrect or sub-standard marketing is not put to market, wasting your time and money.Do not sign an agency agreement under pressure by a real estate agent. Meet with a few agents before you make the decision if you feel they are not the right fit.
Agency Agreement
Get informed about signing an agency agreement before you interview agents. The Real Estate Authority has consumer advice.
Think outside the square
Apply an entrepreneurial approach to your marketing that includes your local community, proximity to amenities and natural lifestyle. Buyers are purchasing a lifestyle, not just a house.
Property Packs
Ensure your agent has a property information pack that is all ready to be sent via email to interested parties upon request. This is the time when the majority of buyers are the most enthusiastic about buying a property. This additional information can help to elevate their interest and the speed at which they move.
Lastly, ensure that you are kept informed at all stages of the decision-making process and request for weekly updates. Ask ‘Why’ if something isn’t making sense and that simple question will ensure there are no wrong assumptions being made and that the sale proceeds along the direction you expect.
Once you have a Sales & Purchase Agreement from your agent, get in touch and we can help you to review the documentation before you sign on the dotted line and remove the risk from the transaction by ensuring your interests are protected during the process.