How to get the best price for your home - what every seller should know
From strategic timing and smart pricing to simple presentation upgrades, these expert tips will help you secure the strongest possible offer
From strategic timing and smart pricing to simple presentation upgrades, these expert tips will help you secure the strongest possible offer
The longer, brighter days of spring often show a home at its most appealing - sunlight floods into rooms, gardens begin to bloom, and everything feels fresher and more inviting. This seasonal lift can also prompt many buyers to begin their search, particularly those hoping to move by the end of summer.
According to research from Rightmove, April is one of the strongest months to sell, with higher-than-average enquiry levels, faster time-to-sell, and an increased likelihood of completing a transaction efficiently. Here Rob Wightman, Head of 糖心传媒鈥檚 Hungerford Office Head, shares his expert advice on presenting your home at its best and setting yourself up for a successful sale.
鈥淲e naturally see both a strong spring and autumn market, but fundamentally we sell houses 12 months a year. The most important question to ask yourself is what best suits your personal circumstances,鈥 he says.
Rob, however, does highlight that houses tend to look their best in warmer months, with brighter light and gardens in bloom. 鈥淐onsider having your photography taken in spring or summer, even if you鈥檙e not planning on selling until autumn or winter,鈥 he advises.
While houses can be brought to market quickly, where possible being well prepared can help alleviate delays down the line. 鈥淲e occasionally have requests to start marketing a property within a couple of weeks, but the more notice we have the better to allow time to gather all relevant documents and information.鈥
Being organised with documentation such as planning approvals and boiler services can make the sales process quicker, as can having a solicitor lined up and ready to go. 鈥淚f a buyer is found quickly, we would want our client to send out the draft contract promptly. But if they haven鈥檛 filled in the paperwork or sent their solicitor all the information needed, this delay can cause a loss in momentum.鈥
Determining the price to sell your home at is a fine balance, particularly in a challenging market - too high and you risk it languishing on the market for too long, too low and you are potentially rushing into underselling your home.
“A phrase I heard recently that resonated was: ‘today’s market rewards accuracy, not optimism’. Setting a sensible price is so important,” says Rob. He stresses that your agent should be able to demonstrate that their recommendation is backed up by comparable evidence and data. “I think people often forget that buyers are also by and large very switched on, and will have done their research.”
Your property quickly receives its first offer - should you accept? “While it can vary per property, we often find that the best offers tend to come early,” says Rob. “Beyond the amount offered, it is also important to think about the quality of the buyer. If they are a cash buyer or chain free it may be a safer offer to take because the sale is less likely to fall through, even if it is not the highest offer.”
Selling your house without public advertising can have distinct advantages, particularly for those prioritising a private and discreet sale. However, this has to be weighed on a case-by-case basis against the loss of exposure of promoting the property more widely.
鈥淪ometimes we might recommend a phase one off-market approach, and then if that happens to be unsuccessful we would go to the open market,鈥 he says. 鈥淏ecause we handpick buyers, off market can work well for certain types of properties.鈥
First impressions matter: before a potential buyer even sets foot in a house, they are already beginning to make up their minds. Consider any easy improvements you can make to the exterior of the house, driveway or surrounding gardens. 鈥淚 was so pleased when a recent client mentioned he was replacing the gravel on their drive - even something simple can make a big difference.鈥
When it comes to interior decor, Rob鈥檚 mantra is 鈥榣ess is more鈥. 鈥淩emove the clutter and clear out rooms as much as possible to show the space, while still retaining warmth and character,鈥 he advises. When it comes to figuring out where to expend energy on improving your home, sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest impact. 鈥淔ocus on areas that a buyer鈥檚 eye might get drawn to negatively - for instance paint flaking off a window, or touching up a water stain from an old leak - to get things looking their best.鈥
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