Seven tips for listing your property

Seven tips for listing a property

It is often said that buying a house is one of the most stressful undertakings in life. Selling a property can be as well – although it doesn’t need to be! With careful planning, a good strategy, realistic expectations and a sales specialist that meets your transactional and communication style preferences, the experience can be a seamless one. Here are some useful tips for selling your home.

1

After the sale – where next?

Vendors are often focused on selling their property and do not allocate sufficient time to think about their next property acquisition. Before listing, consider your next move. Will you be able to find another property that meets your needs? Will you be satisfied with an interim solution, such as a rental?

2

Define goals.

Identifying a desired listing price is usually the first consideration when putting up a property for sale. However, vendors should also decide on the sales price they will be willing to accept, the type of concessions to which they will agree (e.g. a quick close, owner financing), whether or not to include contents and a back-up plan should market conditions change significantly.

3

Engage a sales specialist.

Interview a few agents before selecting one. Ask about their professional network of contacts, their brokerage’s marketing resources, and how they will communicate with you. Understand if they work part time or full time in sales and if they focus on niche geographic markets, certain demographics or specific property types.

4

Conduct a property valuation.

Your sales specialist will recommend a listing price based on market comps and general market performance. In some instances, you may also want to consider engaging a property surveyor to provide a valuation.

5

Prepare your property.

Prepare your property for the sales process. Clean cupboards and closets, freshen paint, remedy anything in need of repair and tidy landscaping. De-clutter as much as possible – the “less is more” principle prevails in this instance. It takes about 10 seconds to make a first impression – your home has to be ready to make a good one.

6

Create a marketing plan.

Once the property valuation is completed and a list price has been established, a marketing plan is developed. Discuss requirements for staging for photography and video tours, social media campaigns, paid ads, and open houses. Have original house plans, property surveys, utility bills and more readily available to assist the sales specialist with representing your home with all necessary information.

7

It’s show time.

The vendor should ensure the property shows to its best advantage at all times. Keep your home tidy inside and out to be ready for short-notice showings. Keep your sales specialist up to date with information relevant relevant to potential buyers, such as home improvements, changes to strata fees, new properties that you hear are going to soon be listed for sale in your neighbourhood and more.