Insider tips to sell your home faster

You’re desperate to sell your home. In fact, you needed to sell yesterday. Whether it’s financial stress, or your new job is in another part of the country or overseas, the most welcome sight in the world right now would be the words “SOLD” emblazed in your front yard. Hence, you are preparing for the real estate equivalent of speed dating.

Just as in speed dating, you know roughly what you want, you need to meet someone who likes what you have to offer, but the last thing you want is to give any hint of desperation. You are not desperate, but keen.

Don’t panic. Whether speed dating or preparing to sell your house quickly, the key is to remain calm by clearly understanding which factors are in your control, and which are not.

The strength of the economy, employment and income growth in the area are out of your control. Obviously if the housing market is booming, and demand is outstripping supply, your house may sell on the same day it’s listed. But that’s out of your control.

Partitioning these uncontrollable factors in your mind, but being an active participant in the factors within your control, will increase your chance of selling quickly.

So, what are the factors in your control?

Price your property competitively from the start

Pricing your property correctly, right from the start, is without doubt your top priority.

Well-priced does not mean “cheap”, but a price that meets the market. Suitable pricing for selling a property quickly, is what wearing a pleasant smile is to a speed dating night – nothing gets started without one.

A new property listing will attract the most views in the first two-three weeks, and then interest levels plunge. So to sell quickly, you need to take full advantage of this window of opportunity with a price that will attract the most interest. This cannot be overstated. Smile at your market with an attractive price.

If after a few weeks your property isn’t attracting the type of enquiry needed to sell, talk to your agent about a price adjustment. Smile wider. The best option is to reduce your price significantly once, rather than incrementally several times, which can quickly build cynicism in the minds of potential buyers.

Marketing strategically

There is no doubt that the systems, expertise and connections available to you through engaging a professional real estate agent will increase your chance of a quick sale.

Don’t forget your real estate agent not only has a vested interest in selling your property, but doing so quickly. They are on your side.

Talk to your agent about using all the marketing tools available to gain maximum exposure for your property, and make sure these tactics are connecting with the type of buyer more likely to buy.

Open houses are important, but be ready at all times for a showing and second inspections. Make sure you are continually receiving feedback from potential buyers.

To avoid losing time and effort on contracts that “fall over”, be prepared to discuss the pros and cons of your home openly with potential buyers.

Staging and professional photography

OK … here comes another speed dating analogy. Who goes to speed dating nights in their gardening clothes? Presentation is king or queen. Dress your house in metaphoric fine jewellery, beautiful clothes and spray on Chanel No. 5.

Property staging or styling is the process of using a property stylist to “stage” your property with furniture when preparing for sale. Generally, items are hired for a term of approximately six weeks.

Staging is about building emotional bridges with potential buyers, and through the work of professionals, presenting your property in the best possible way.

By going the next step, and engaging a professional photographer to capture images of your house once it’s been styled, you can multiply the styling effect in the market place.

There’s an old saying about a picture painting and word numbers, and it applies here when great photos of your house are featured across multiple marketing channels. Dress for success!

Method of sale

An auction is the go-to sale method for those with a tight time frame, as it gives the vendor a potential predetermined sale date. In a seller’s market, auctioning for a quick sale is a no-brainer.

In tougher markets, there is always a risk that the house will not sell, or you may not meet your reserve, but auctions still increase the visibility of a property in the market place over a short time frame.

Price it right from the start if there have been a decent number of comparable homes that have sold in the area to give you a good overview as to the value of your home. Obtaining three appraisals (CMA’s) from local agents is also a great way to gain insight as to the homes potential value.

I’m not a fan of price by negotiation as it puts buyers off (particularly if there is an over supply in the market) and anyway, they still need to call the agent to ask ‘what are the sellers wanting’. The agent needs to give an idea of the value so it’s counter productive in my opinion.