When you think about the 5 most stressful life events, moving house might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the emotions involved in moving can be very up and down. If you live in the property (as opposed to an investor), you most probably feel sentimental about leaving the place where you’ve created countless memories. If it’s your first time selling a property, it’s particularly overwhelming. One way to assist in alleviating this stress is to work alongside good people. By people, I mean the team of people who will help and support you through the highs and lows of the process. Your team may consist of some or all of the following professionals:
- Conveyancer/Solicitor
- Real Estate Agent
- Stylist
- Photographer
- Independent valuer
- Removalist
- Cleaner/Gardener/Window cleaner
- Skip Bin Company/Rubbish removal
- Property Inspector
- Add in a few family and friends to help you along the way too
There is no doubt that putting a property on the market, especially when it’s your own home, can be quite an emotional rollercoaster, but with the right knowledge, guidance and support the process can run smoothly.
1) Pre-selling: Key things to consider
Before putting your property on the market, there are some key factors to keep in mind. Firstly, determine why you want to sell and what you hope to achieve. The right time to sell is when it is the right time for you. You should be able to discern a clear and positive reason why you will benefit from the sale, for example:
- Upgrade to a larger home to accommodate a growing family.
- Reduce financial pressure.
- Downsize to a smaller, more manageable home.
- Move to a retirement village.
When you decide to sell, you might find yourself in a buyer’s market, a balanced market, or a seller’s market. People have all sorts of reasons for needing to upsize, downsize, or relocate. And sometimes those reasons have nothing to do with the current real estate market. When you need to move, you need to move, regardless of what the market is doing. But, if you’re not tied to a particular timeframe, then market considerations may come into play.
If there is a benefit to you in the long run, the selling process will be much easier for you. You should never put your property on the market with the thought “I’ll sell if I get my desired price”, or similar. Without a clear goal you are wasting your time, emotional energy and money.
A competent real estate agency again should be able to provide information to assist with decision making without pushing you into selling. If you are being pushed or feel uncomfortable then this is a clear sign that something is not right. It might be the timing, the agent or even the price.
It’s important to choose your agent wisely and ask all of the questions during the interview process. You need someone you can trust and who has the time to always answer all your concerns. Make sure to research the Smart way to select your agent and prepare questions to ask when interviewing.
2) Preparing your property for sale
Once you’ve decided to sell your property, it’s important to prepare it for the market. Giving your property that extra appeal does not necessarily translate to spending thousands of dollars to make your home attractive.
Buyers are attracted by the appearance of your property and when they step inside for an inspection, they are influenced by the atmosphere. A neat exterior followed by a clean and uncluttered interior allows buyers to imagine your property being their future home.
Mowing the lawn, tidying and watering the garden, cleaning gutters, removing cobwebs, and sweeping the path are a few suggestions to help you make a positive first impression.
For the interior, a welcoming atmosphere is appealing. Minimal clutter, fresh and clean benchtops, clean floors and windows can all help. Remember, potential buyers are imagining their furniture and personal items in the space so allowing plenty of light and space for them to be able to do this easily without any distractions. There is also no need to worry too much about the garage/shed being full of boxes – people will understand the temporary storage situation.
Taking care of any small maintenance tasks can also make a big difference. Fixing wobbly door handles, torn fly screens, and squeaky doors can also avoid any negative thoughts and be relatively inexpensive.
While you’re preparing your house for the market, it is also a good time to discuss with your conveyancer preparing the Contract of Sale and Section 32. Normally, they will ask for a copy of your most recent rates notice and water bill at this time.
3) A successful photo day
Many people worry about photo day. They spend the week and weekend before in much bother tidying and clearing every single surface, cupboard and window. Before photo day it may relieve some pressure if you ask your agent which rooms will be photographed. Will the laundry be photographed? If not then it becomes an easy space to pop extra bits and pieces from around the house.
We have a full article on how to prepare for photography with many tips and tricks. You will be pleased to know that not all fingerprints or little bits of dust show up in property photography.
4) Beyond listing: navigating the market
Once you have the photos taken and the FOR SALE SIGN things certainly get real! The property will be marketed, buyers will inspect and you will be wanting to know everything that’s happening.
It is a good idea to talk to your agent prior to this time about how often or by what means you expect them to communicate with you. One of the biggest complaints about agents in general is the lack of communication so setting these expectations early may avoid disappointment.
When moving through a sale campaign the emotions can be high and low. Surround yourself with a good team of professionals. Once you have found this team, lean on them for advice and information, which should assist with your sales journey running smoothly.
At Kardinia Property, we believe that selling your property should be a stress free and rewarding experience. For more information about the deciding, preparing and moving through the sale process give us a call at our Pakington Street office here in Geelong, 5292 8084.