If you are like most sellers, the thought of selling your property can be daunting.
Working with your agent and showcasing your property in its finest light are the two things that, more than others, will optimise your chances of success.
GIVING YOUR PROPERTY THAT EXTRA SPARKLE
You rarely need to spend thousands of dollars to make your home attractive. Buyers are attracted by the appearance of your property and, when they inspect it, they are influenced by its atmosphere. The right appearance outside, followed by the right mood inside, gives you the best chance to get the highest price.
The first thing we notice is the outside. If the property is clean and neat and welcoming, we are interested. If it is scruffy or dirty, we are turned off.
Buyers often say they "just want to look from the outside." They want to see if they are attracted by the appearance.
For this reason you need to be careful how your agent markets the property. Advertising an address, and opening for inspection a property that might not be attractive from the outside, can lose many buyers.
To make your home look its best, attention to detail is crucial. When you live in the property, you can overlook its little faults. It is now time to have a fresh look.
Stand in the street and look at your property as if you were seeing it for the first time. Try hard to pick faults. It is better that YOU find the faults while there is time to fix them, than the buyers finding the faults. The challenge is to make your property as attractive as possible without spending too much.
First impressions create permanent opinions-so create a positive mood for all prospective purchasers.
THE VALUE OF MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
If you spend enough money in making the property more attractive, you will usually make it easier to find a buyer.
But you need to find middle ground. It makes no sense if the cost of the improvements is too high-often it would be more cost effective to reduce your asking price. Most major improvements are personal and do not add the value you expect. An example is a swimming pool. If you pay $30,000 for a pool, the pool salesperson may tell you this increases the value of your property. But if the buyers don't want a pool you will not get back what you paid.
Most improvements often return only half their cost upon sale. You may have to wait years to find a buyer with the same personal taste as you. If your property needs major renovation, it may be better to avoid the expense of renovation and instead select a lower asking price.
Many buyers want to renovate a property that suit their own taste. While minor improvements can give you a great return on your selling price, major improvements are often a big mistake. Either spend a little bit of money to sell your property or spend a lot of money and stay there.
Article courtesy of Gary Pittard