There is more to selling your home than putting up a ‘For Sale’ sign on your front lawn. Here are the first things you should check off your list to help you get the largest return from your investment and to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Choose a quality agent
Asking family and friends who have purchased or sold a property about their experience is a great way to ensure the agent you’ve enlisted will provide quality service, “A website and promotional material will always highlight the agent in the best possible way, but word of mouth and past client reviews will show their true colours,”. Also consider asking other industry experts such as Mortgage Brokers, Accountants and Financial Planners. They all work around property and will usually know the best agents in their areas.
Make sure the agent specialises in your area and is someone you feel comfortable around as they don’t just negotiate prices on your behalf, they also act as a mediator and represent you as a vendor.
Prepare the paperwork
Getting together all the documents required is a tedious yet necessary part of the process. Before a property can be marketed for sale, your agent requires a signed copy of the Contract. You will also need to work on gathering lists and contacts for all of your services and mail registered to your address so it can be changed once sold and get a home loan pre-approval so you know how much you can borrow for your next home. This will ensure all the paperwork is prepared in time to ensure it all runs smoothly.
Don’t take things personally
Remember this is a business transaction; don’t feel insulted if you receive feedback on the property that doesn’t match how you feel about your home. To ensure you come out with the best deal, remove all emotion and think of your house as a commodity.
Your property won’t sell itself
Thinking that your home will sell itself can be a costly mistake. Despite how much you like the way you have it set up, furniture, flooring and painting changes can make a big difference to the property’s wider appeal, and marketing it widely can increase the competition and, therefore, the price.
Engage in a thorough marketing campaign and invest in presenting your property in its best light. Trusting your agent’s strategy can help secure the best financial result.
Speak to your broker
If you are making a decision to sell, speak to your finance broker to ensure that your plans after selling – whether they are buying a similar property, upgrading or building – are actually feasible.
I always advise clients to speak to their broker first to make sure their plans for post-settlement are realistic. There is nothing worse than selling your home and then not being able to achieve what you had set out to do.
Surround yourself with a good team
When all of the people in your network, including your broker, conveyancer and agent, communicate effectively, you should be blissfully unaware of any minor issues that pop up during the course of the sale. This will ensure you get the most out of the market and be able to enjoy the process. After all you should be excited about moving on and enjoy the process of house hunting.
Contact us today to find out more.
