Selling a home can be a stressful and emotional process, but getting the best price for your home is crucial to ensure that you are able to move on to your next chapter with financial security. Here are a few tips on how to get the best price for your home when selling:
Price Your Home Accurately
One of the most important factors in achieving the best possible price for your home is pricing it accurately. This means doing your research and using market data to determine the right asking price for your property therefore advertising it in the correct pricing bracket to achieve maximum interest.
Instruct The Right Agent
Talk to local estate agents and see if they will give you a quote for what the property is worth and their commission. A good place to start when picking an agent is recommendations from friends who have moved recently. A good agent will also have a network of potential buyers and be able to market your home most effectively. In order to attract potential buyers, you need to make sure your home is visible and accessible to them. This means using a variety of marketing channels, including online platforms and traditional methods like open houses and signage. Instruct an agent who will uses all social media channels to advertise your property along with the usual housing portals.
Create a Good First Impression!
Before putting your home on the market, take some time to make sure it looks its best. This can include things like decluttering, rearranging furniture, and making minor repairs and improvements.
A tidy appearance to the front of your home doesn’t just include tidying up the garden or weeding the pathway, it also applies to your front door and any accessories you add surrounding this first point of contact with potential buyers.
Repainting a tired-looking front door is a good start, as is mending a broken gate – anything that looks in need of fixing could be noted by a potential buyer as a hassle or expense they could do without. If your outdoor mat looks like it has seen better days, remove and replace. This is an easy and cheap way to improve a buyer’s first glance yet is so often overlooked. If your front door features glass panels or a porch with glass before your front door, ensure that the hallway is clutter-free and boots and shoes are tidied away.
On viewing days add tasteful touches such as fresh flowers or new clean bedding, light some candles and eliminate any pet smells.
Keep the House Clutter Free
Keep inside as clutter-free as you can for the agent’s photos and any viewings. Sellers should avoid having too much furniture and drastically reducing free space available for walking. Your house will feel bigger if people can move around without having to squeeze past your belongings, so it could be worth putting some things in storage. If you have a loft or watertight shed you can stash things there. If not, it may be worth paying for storage for a few weeks to maximise the price you get for your home. A clutter free home can help potential buyers envision themselves living there and may increase the perceived value of your home.
Pricing Competitively & Negotiation
It's important to price your home competitively in order to attract buyers and increase the chances of getting multiple offers. Be flexible and open to negotiation. In most cases, the final sale price of a home will be the result of negotiation between the buyer and seller. Be prepared to be flexible and open to negotiation in order to achieve the best possible price for your home. A house is only worth what the market determines and holding out for a higher amount means that sometimes you end up with less especially as the market can suddenly change.
Clear Up All Outstanding Issues
When you get an offer, your buyer’s solicitor will ask for all kinds of paperwork – you can prevent any hold-ups later by making sure you can put your hands on it now.
There’s a list of things you should try to get ready, including proof of ID, as well as documents linked to any work you have had done on your property. Building regulations approval, planning permissions, Fensa certificates for replacement windows and doors, and a safety certificate for any new boiler are among the paperwork you will need to show – so pull them together now. Doing so gives you the chance to check there are no outstanding issues that need sorting out.
Be Prepared
Once an offer has been accepted it is important that you have your solicitors details ready. Often, properties go under offer and then there’s an unnecessary delay in anything further happening. Usually, this is due to the vendor having not instructed a solicitor, or the solicitor has been instructed but doesn’t have the necessary information to provide to the buyer’s solicitor.
In a competitive market, appointing a solicitor as soon as you can, not only sends a clear message out to potential buyers that you’re ready to proceed without delay, but gives your solicitor time to review the title deeds and iron out anything that could cause a problem in the transaction.
By following these tips, you can increase the chances of achieving the best possible price for your home. If you have any other questions or need help with your moving goals please don't hesitate to contact us as we are always here to help.