What can we do for you?

What can we do for you?

The housing market has witnessed months of relatively low activity, with the economic climate leading to a wait-and-see approach from many potential buyers and sellers. The latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs showed that 10,000 fewer homes were sold in the UK in July 2011 than a year earlier.
So what can you do to make your home more attractive for the buyers who are out there? With ongoing competition for buyers, it is important that sellers consider how best to market their property and the steps to take to achieve a sale.
 

Julian Reid Estate Agents

We have unrivalled knowledge of the local market, what buyers are looking for and numerous tips for displaying the property to best advantage. We are happy to come and advise you as early as possible in the sales process. We will give you a straight forward appraisal of the property market, what price you might expect to achieve and the length of time it may take to sell.
Consider conveyancing early, too. Ask your solicitor to prepare a draft contact and apply for the title deeds while you gather any other necessary documentation, such as guarantees on work completed on your home. If you do not have a solicitor, we are happy to recommend some useful numbers.
Next, think about your target market. Consider who may want to buy your home, such as a family or a professional couple, and gear your sale to that. We will ensure that key highlight aspects that will be of interest to them, such as schools and colleges, transport links and entertainment venues. We will prepare your marketing and promotion of your property accordingly.

Viewing

It is obvious that a clean, well-presented home is preferred by most buyers, so take the time to do a spot of spring cleaning and DIY if necessary, but do not spend more money on this than you anticipate gaining.
Instead of buying new kitchen fittings, for example, consider replacing doors instead. A new lick of paint - particularly on front doors and the most popular rooms in the house - also helps. Make sure you choose neutral colours and always try to appeal to the more conservative buyer.
De-clutter and depersonalise your home as much as possible. Clutter can make a room look smaller and disorganised and buyers could wonder if you are hiding something. Remove any objects that a potential buyer may not be able to identify with.
Consider putting together a small pack of information for your prospective buyer. This could include copies of guarantees of work completed, a sample utility bill, service histories for the boiler and even details about local schools or amenities - anything you would find useful as a buyer.
We always recommend that we conduct the initial viewings where we will highlight the positive aspects of the property and how it may appeal to the needs or aspirations of the buyer. If you have pets or children, this will make life considerably easier and make sure there are few distractions which could impact on your sale.
 

Choosing

If you receive an offer on your property, you will need to consider if the price is right and also what the buyer's personal circumstances may be.
While it is exciting finding a buyer, it is often the case that they may not be in a financial position to buy or may have an existing property to sell, which could slow down or even stop the sale. We are here to help you and advise - particularly if there are two competing buyers - which one may be more suitable for you. Sometimes it is not the highest price offered that is always the best for the seller.
It can take weeks to get to exchange of contracts and we will keep in close contact with you and your solicitor to make sure you know of any developments as soon as possible - particularly in relation to your buyer's circumstances. At the same time, of course, you may also be a buyer yourself and will need to know the likely timing of a sale.
To fix an appointment for us to value your home call now on 020 7923 8650 or email info@julianreid.co.uk