“Carrying on”…

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PROPERTY FEATURE What can I do to sell my house? We’ve all heard tales of friends who put their property on the market one day and had the SOLD sign up the next – but with the market now slowing down to a more realistic pace, it may take a little more time, effort and attention to detail to clinch that sale. So how do you make sure YOUR home is at the top of a buyer’s “want to see” list? 1. Choose the right estate agent This is the first vital decision you’ll need to make. Take a look at what’s on the books of several local agents and choose one that seems to focus on properties of a similar type to yours. There’s little use in instructing an agent who normally markets trendy apartments or country estates, if yours is a traditional 3-bed semi! Also, remember that you need to have a rapport with your chosen estate agent, so choose one you can communicate easily with, and who, you feel, is on your wavelength. After all, the agent will effectively become your business partner during the selling process, and if communication is poor, then working conditions are hardly going to be easy. Ask 46 yourself if you believe in your agent’s ability to sell your property. 2. Get the price right Once you have decided upon your agent, the next step is setting an asking price for your home. The usual advice is to approach three local agents for a valuation and take an average. Bear in mind, though, that valuing property is not an exact science, which is why agents’ valuations may show a 10% or in some cases, even 20% difference. The temptation is always to go for the higher valuation, but remember that agents sometimes value on the high side in order to get an instruction. Often, these are the agents who may call you after a couple of weeks of marketing, to suggest a price reduction. Bear in mind that buyers are currently spoilt for choice as there is much more property on the market, so valuing realistically is more likely to get them through your door. One way of getting a realistic valuation is to contact a local qualified surveyor. This will cost you, but will give their valuation based upon past history, and his or her inside knowledge of similar properties that have sold in the area. Or, do some DIY detective work and find out what similar properties in your area have sold for (rather than been marketed at). Often, though, simply averaging out the three valuations from the local estate agents will give you the best selling price. By now, you should have the right agent, selling at the right price. 3. Listen to the experts! Once you are this far down the line, it is important that you listen to your estate agent - after all you have now effectively employed them to do a job. Your estate agent spends all day every day looking at other people’s houses, and they get to know what will attract or put off a buyer – so ask if there are any improvements you can make to pep up the appeal of your home. There may be something glaringly obvious that you don’t see because you live with it, but which an agent will pick up instantly. The agent will be aware of the average buyers’ favourite colours and design features, and can often come up with easy and inexpensive ideas you can carry out to present your living space in the best possible light. Remember, you’re going to be paying for your agency service - so make good use of it! If you co-operate and work with your agency, you’ll find that they are more willing to work harder to sell your property, because they can see that you are putting in the effort. 4. Re-decorate Everyone knows that when new owners move in, out go the carpets, the colours schemes – sometimes even the bathroom or kitchen. So why re-decorate, you may ask? Well, houses are no different from anything else we buy, and the more co-ordinated, clean and presentable they are, the more they appeal to the eye. Would you buy a new car with dents and scratches and a filthy interior?
No! So why would you expect someone to buy your property if it’s looking unloved, unkempt and rough around the edges? Scary as it sounds, it may be advisable to consider re-decorating the key rooms to freshen them up. You can do this on a strict budget by opting for a simple re-paint job in light, uplifting neutral shades, and adding in some contemporary accessories such as cushions, lamps, a rug, some potted plants and vases – which of course you will take away with you 5. Keep it simple Often, showing your home at its best will mean you need to de-clutter and depersonalise. A would-be buyer needs to be able to imagine their own possessions in your home, and if it’s over-stuffed with yours, that becomes difficult. To de-clutter, contact your local removal company and organise a storage crate, then go through your property and remove anything that isn’t used from day to day. This will instantly make the property look larger and more airy. Secondly de-personalise, which may also mean a re-paint job in more neutral tones if you have individualistic purple or orange colour schemes. It may also be a good idea to have the carpets cleaned, and don't forget to clean the bathrooms and toilets, and to keep the windows sparkling. The cost of the paint and carpet cleaning will be around £400-500, but this may well make a difference to the price you can sell for. Don't forget, we are now in a buyers’ market, which makes it more important than ever that your property stands out from the rest. 6. House Dressers If you do not have the time, or feel that decorating and re-styling are not your strong points, then you might consider calling on the expert services of a house dresser. These professionals will view your property as a buyer would, and then discuss with you the possible ways that your house could be improved with a budget of around £1,000. This investment could in some cases achieve an additional £5,000 on the price of your property, and in a toughening market may well be the best way of making your home more appealing. PROPERTY FEATURE Interior pictures supplied by Pittis Estate Agents and Fox Property 47
Page 2 and 3: 2 c o m f o r t , s t y l e , a n d
Page 4 and 5: 4 Dishwashers Washing Machines Wash
Page 7 and 8: Jack and his alter-ego just keep
Page 9 and 10: panto season this year is that the
Page 11 and 12: “If an item remains serviceable w
Page 13 and 14: “County Hall is an awful looking
Page 15 and 16: Bruce Forsyth one of those things."
Page 17 and 18: like to interview? Sean Connery is
Page 19 and 20: Chris Reed Giving kids a swinging t
Page 21 and 22: Organic, is the way forward Godshil
Page 23 and 24: Dimbola - named after tea estates h
Page 25 and 26: year we help a charity connected wi
Page 27 and 28: A u t u m n a l g a rd e n i n g No
Page 29 and 30: Types of rug TURNOUT RUG - Used for
Page 31 and 32: Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghi
Page 33 and 34: Be a lady for all seasons If all th
Page 35 and 36: FASHION 35
Page 37 and 38: Page 36- Left - Dave: Shoes - Paul
Page 39 and 40: For instant evening glamour choose
Page 41 and 42: just another beauty chore. W ith th
Page 43 and 44: Once the apples have been pressed,
Page 45: Ageless world of a Master Thatcher
Page 49 and 50: Fishbourne, Guide £575,000 to £62
Page 51 and 52: prestige department www.foxproperty
Page 53 and 54: "It makes business sense for us to
Page 55 and 56: Photographs by Jessica Dobbs PROPER
Page 57 and 58: Stunning Views “Kingsview”in Ve
Page 59 and 60: Foxhills again awarded Five Red Dia
Page 61 and 62: the form of the multi-function stee
Page 63 and 64: BMW cuts a dash in town or country,
Page 65 and 66: L O O K I N G F O R Y O U R Y O U N

“Carrying on”…

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?