Selling Your Property Made Easy With SOUTH LONDON Property Experts
Bricks & Mortar News from Sydenham Estate Agents. South London residential property experts since 1975
What’s my property worth?
You need to get an accurate idea of your properties value before putting it on the market.- Invite local estate agents to carry out a ‘no obligation valuation’
- Do your research, look at similar properties in the area using local property magazines and newspapers, estate agent window shopping and property websites.
- Use Land Registry records to find out what similar properties SOLD for.
- If you have a new neighbour, bite the bullet and ask them what they paid.
When is the best time to sell my property?
Don’t worry about this too much; if you need to sell, you need to sell. Properties do sell all the yearround.
Spring and summer are the most popular times of year for property hunters longer daylight hours,
are more favourable for viewings and it allows homeowners to show their property in its best light .
Plus, the better weather seems to make us all more positive.
Keep up with property prices and mortgage rate news as it pays up to speed with what’s
happening in the financial climate.
Why use an estate agent?
Local estate agents know the understand and know the issues involved in selling houses in your area. We know the marketing issues and will be up to date with market trends, the facts and figures and the emotions that may spill over during the moving processWhat can they offer me?
Estate agents save you time and stress by,- Already having a target audience
- Actively promoting your property to the widest audience possible
- Dealing with would‐be buyers and time wasters and knowing the difference between the two.
- Remaining calm, professional and analytical on your behalf to exercise maximum control over the sales process.
- Acting as a go‐between during possibly tense negotiations.
Does it matter if the estate agent is independent of corporately owned?
In a word ‐ Yes! Independent agents are local experts. The directors and staff will haveamassed a huge amount of experience in the local property market. As a buyer you will benefit from
all of their local knowledge, connections expertise.
How should I choose my estate agent?
When choosing an Estate Agent, The National Association of Estate Agents or NAEA has some good advice.- Using a well known national agent is not a guarantee of good service. The service you get from an Estate Agent is only as good at the people staffing that particular branch.
- Make sure your chosen agent is a member of The National Association of Estate Agents and the Ombudsman Scheme. They will have to operate to a strict code of conduct for residential estate agency.
- Don’t automatically choose the agent with the highest valuation. As there is no guarantee that they will obtain that price for you. Some unscrupulous know that you will be tempted to ask for that little bit extra for your home and will deliberately over value your house in order to get your instruction.
- Don’t automatically choose the Estate Agent with the lowest fee rate. This will often mean that they offer the lowest rate of marketing.
- Ask what an agent is offering for their fee, some may advertise your property to a higher level.
- Compare fees between agents.
- Make sure that references and testimonials check out.
- Read the small print – the contract may try to tie you to the agency for a longer period that you are comfortable with. You will be legally bound to pay the agents fee if you want to change agents before the contract end date.
- Using more than one agent (multiple listing) usually means that you will have to pay more than one fee or a higher rate than if you use a sole agent. Check the contract for these figures.
- Once you have selected and instructed your agent be firm about progress reports to make sure that they are getting prospective buyers in. Stay in regular contact. It’s down to you to present your property in its best possible condition. By keeping on top of this you will achieve the best price for your home
- Does your agent have an online marketing strategy to make your property fully available on the internet? Can it be found easily by potential purchasers? Did you know that 90% of purchasers start their property search online?
- Know your limits, fix your minimum price. An Estate Agent is obligated by law to let you know of all offers on your property even if they are ‘silly offers’
Where will my buyer come from?
Your buyer could come from anywhere, with the mobility of today’s press and web marketingyour buyer could be local, regional, national or international.
Any tips on how to present my property?
- First impressions count so make sure your property has kerb appeal. Many properties have been sold before the prospective purchaser has set foot inside the front door. On the flipside many house sales have been lost for the same reason. So stage your property to appeal to the widest possible audience.
- Approach you property as if for the first time and be critical! Look for things that you have learned to live with, these may really distract or put off prospective purchasers.
- People react positively to properties shown with good light. If showing your property in the day time, keep the windows clean and curtains wide open. If necessary leave lights on. If showing your property on a winters evening leave all the lights on and replace any blown bulbs or wash dingy light fittings.
- Keep colours light and neutral.
- Make sure your home smells fresh and clean.
- Clear the clutter.
- In an ideal world the decoration should make the most of your homes features.
- Try to make sure that any noise is kept to a minimum, the more peaceful the better.
- Mow the lawn, bring your washing in, and display fresh flowers inside.
- It really helps if potential purchasers can visualise themselves living in your home.
- Try to create a lifestyle that sells.
- Don’t apologise for the appearance of your home, afterall it's your home!
- Be polite, try to get a rapport going with your potential buyer but don’t try to entertain, and above all remember they are there to inspect your home.
- Answer any questions truthfully and to the best of your knowledge.
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