Most people think that it is only the prevalent real estate market that determines how quickly and for how much their house is going to go. What novices fail to take into consideration is that how you present the house is almost as important as the physical dimensions of the unit itself, says Martin McCartney from fasthousesaleslondon.co.uk.
Selling a house is a more of a psychological game than anything. Most people, especially end-users, rely on their gut instinct to help them make a decision. Therefore, the house needs to be presented in a manner that makes buyers think ‘this is it!’ the second they walk in the door.
The real estate market is full of homes that are just sitting unsold simply because their owners haven’t been convincing enough in their presentation of the property. If you’re a novice home seller, use this as a check list for things that will escalate your chances of the property quickly and effortless.
- Subtle is the new extravagant
- Attached appliances and renovations
- Locale and location superiority
- Storage space
- No personal attachments, be professional
Keep only basic furniture and ornaments around the house. Don’t go overboard with decorating the house with loud colors and shiny ornaments.
Also, perception is everything. So if you place too many objects in the house, a prospective buyer might see the space as cluttered and stuffy, even if the floor plans state otherwise.
Remember: It should be easy for a potential buyer to imagine living in the house. An overt personal touch may just put them off. They need to be impressed with the house, not you.
Tell whoever comes to look at your house about all the changes you’ve made to the main structure. This should include the major renovations, such as expansion of any and all bedrooms, replacement of a heating/cooling unit, changing of the piping and wiring etc.
Provide a list of all the appliances that come with the house (dish washer, washing machine, inverter, air conditioner, furniture etc). Move from room to room so you don’t miss anything out.
Remember: You basically want to give the impression that the house is in a good condition and the buyer will have to put in minimal or no work to make the home habitable.
Location is the proverbial golden egg of the real estate market.
Be specific about all the schools, parks, restaurants, etc that lie near your house.
Keep a map handy so you can always prove to the more skeptical buyers that your house is just as easily accessible as you say it is.
Make a categorized list of all the major road networks, grocery stores, hospitals, food outlets, bars, etc that lie close to your house and hand it out to whoever comes to look at the house.
Remember: Most people, while stressing on how good a location the property is located at, forget to mention WHY the location is as brilliant as they claim it to be. Do not make that mistake.
While storage space is rarely a priority, it could be a deal breaker. Too many times has it happened that a person has bought a house, started unpacking, and suddenly realized that there’s hardly any space to put his/her things.
Emphasize on the amount of storage space your house has. Take them through each and every room and point out all the closets, cupboards, drawers, and other storage spaces.
If you have identical drawers/cupboards/cabinets, leave one/a few empty and fill the other(s) up; this way, the buyer will have a clear idea of just how big the unit is, and how much stuff it can hold.
Don’t hide anything in drawers and cupboards that could put off potential buyers. If they find something they don’t like, they will almost certainly take their business elsewhere.
Remember: Most people open every single storage unit to gauge how deep it is.
If you want a quick and easy sale, don’t start a conversation with a prospective buyer. After all, they’re going to be living in what till today was your refuge from the world.
Don’t leave too many pictures of you and your family having a good time around the house. A lot of buyers, especially families, might develop a sense of guilt over replacing you or your family.
Just keep the conversation limited to small talk and answer any questions they may have about the house, neighbors and locality.
Remember: It’s much harder for people to buy from someone with whom they feel some sort, ANY sort of a personal connection.
These small but significant tips will not only help you sell your house quicker, they’ll also help to increase the value of your home.
Selling a home is an emotionally distressing and physically harrowing experience even in the best of times. Think of it as a band-aid and rip it off as quickly as you can. Just follow these simple tips if you don’t want your house sitting in the market forever.
We believe that whether you want to sell your home fast in Phoenix or London, these tips are universal enough to be of great use to all!