Selling Tips

10 HOT TIPS TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER PRICE WHEN SELLING!

1. Have a section 32 ready before the first buyer inspection

2. Appoint a property stylist to inspect your home

3. Only use a professional property photographer

4. Outside the home ensure gardens are at their best

5. Windows, it is inexpensive to have a professional clean inside and out

6. Remove clutter and make sure your furniture best enhances the home

7. Love your pet? Many buyers may not remove any evidence odors, hair etc

8. Paint any marks or even refresh a room the right choices can add $$$$

9. Keep buyer inspections to set times. (This creates atmosphere and competition.)

10. Ask a friend to come through acting as a buyer to give feedback

The preparation you put into getting your property ready for sale can be the difference between getting a standard price and getting a great price. And, the best part is, it's not hard, time consuming or expensive.

The process, or indeed art, of presenting your property for sale is an important one to master. For most, the sale of a property comes around every 5-7 years. For others it has become a more regular event, choosing to capitalise on the opportunity of upgrading the family home and make substantial tax free gains in the process.

Whatever your motive for selling, the process can either be stress free and lucrative or tense and disappointing. The good news is that you have the ability to choose

Timing

Buyers for good quality property can be found all year round. With the marketing process having become far more sophisticated than in previous times, the issue of timing is less critical today than in the past. However, there are some important points you may wish to consider. You will find that there is always something happening in and around Melbourne and timing a sale around key events can sometimes prove challenging. The main events to be aware of are the AFL Grand Final, Spring Racing Carnival and Easter long weekend.

. The time required to sell property that is accurately priced will typically vary between two and six weeks. Prior to placing your property on the market, allow an additional two weeks to prepare both the property and the marketing material.

Presentation

“You don’t get a second chance at a first impression” When it comes to presenting your property for sale correct presentation is critical in achieving the highest possible price.

The emotional appeal required to stir the spirit of the buyers is unlikely to be generated by a poorly presented property. And a neglected building sends out 'warning signals' to prospective buyers. So it is important to do whatever is possible to have your property looking its absolute best on inspection day. Some of the turn offs for buyers include:

Animal odours in the house
Evidence of damp or moisture in the walls
Cigarette or strong food odours
Doors, windows or gates that stick
Cracked glass
Too much furniture or personal belongings cluttering the space
Stained carpet

To improve the presentation, seek an outside opinion, as many of these problems can be fixed over a weekend for little expense. We believe the process is so important that we offer our clients the services of our in-house Property Stylist to help in preparing the property.

For vacant properties, we would also recommend the use of decorator furniture for the period of the sale. Advice on the best type of furniture can also be offered by our stylist. The average cost to furnish a typical three bedroom house for six weeks is likely to be in the range of $2,000-$5,000 - in our experience an excellent investment in maximising the sale price of your property.

Method of Sale

When it comes to selling your property, there are 3 popular methods to choose from:

Private Treaty (Sale)
Public Auction
Preview

Each has its own advantages and it is advisable to speak to your agent about the benefits of each method.

Our company has successfully utilised all sale methods, however we have found sale by Auction to be the preferred method of sale used by our clients.

Also, where a property is likely to attract more than one qualified buyer in the marketplace, auction allows competitive bidding to increase the final sale price. In the event that you choose to submit your property for sale by auction, research the success of each company's auctioneers and their level of experience, as a skilled auctioneer can add significantly to your end result.

Most auction marketing periods run for about four weeks.

Sale Preparation Checklist

Get the property detailed thoroughly