THE SMART WAY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE

There are five Dead Cert Must Dos, if you want to give your house the best chance of selling in a reasonable time period, and for the best market-related price.

Think about it. Over the course of a career in property, estate agents walk into hundreds upon hundreds of homes...and they hear what prospective clients say. It's worth listening to those pearls of wisdom

UPDATES AND RENOVATIONS

As a seller, you want your home to look its best, and you're concerned about some of your 'dated' areas. The kitchen, bathroom, perhaps the pool. A contemporary respray of cupboard doors, or replacing an ageing pool surround is wise, but installing a pool or gutting kitchens and bathrooms, in order to sell your house. Pause...

What do the estate agents hear?

A seller is expecting to, at the very least, recoup those expenses, but if the market dictates a certain price in a particular area - or the market isn't very buoyant - you often don't recoup the money spent on those big ticket items.   

MAINTENANCE

As a seller, a property which looks loved, matters. Whether you freshen up paintwork, get the garden looking its best - verge, lawn, pots - or ensure that rusted security gates/burglar guards are cleaned and painted, it all matters.  

What do the estate agents hear?

Poor maintenance gives the impression that there's a shortage of funds. That translates into the price you'll be offered, because unkempt means money needs to be spent.

A fair amount of maintenance isn't expensive - paint, plants, cleaning - so make sure your home is as pristine and inviting as possible.

DECLUTTER

South Africans like space and light, so no matter whether you have a large house or small apartment, get rid of the clutter. And make sure that you allow in as much light as possible - whether you install simple, inexpensive blinds as opposed to heavy curtains, make sure any curtains/blinds are wide open, or introduce a few mirrors and white paint to reflect light. Bring in the light.  

What do the estate agents hear?

Nine times out of ten, you'll have more than one person at a time looking at your home - a couple perhaps. If your clutter impedes easy flow from one space to another, the impression is the home is too small for them. If your clutter - which may be treasured collections for you - fills every available space, it'll impact on the sense of lightness in the home. A plain wall reflects light...a wall unit crammed with small ornaments blocks that.

It's all about impressions.

PRICE IT RIGHT

You've heard this many times, but for good reason. If you do your own homework - and get advice from an estate agent familiar with your area - you'll arrive at a figure with which the market is likely to be comfortable. Your sums will include a host of factors, but topping the list will be what other similar homes in your area have sold for recently.

Why is the correct price at the outset, so important? Because your home is likely to stay on the market for far longer than you'd like, or that it should. The market becomes 'bored' with the property. If you then reduce your price, it sends a few different, often negative messages to buyers.
 

What do the estate agents hear?

An unrealistic price tends to indicate you're not a serious seller. Remember, buyers will have been to other properties, done loose comparative market analyses, and probably done a fair amount of online homework.

Buyers seeking a property in a lower price band, will either not be shown your house, or if they are, feel it would be pointless to make an offer.

FIRST ASK FOR ADVICE

Before you spend a cent, call in a professional for advice. If you call in an estate agent who has worked extensively in your area - or perhaps it's somebody with whom you've dealt with before - you can do this long BEFORE you sell your property. Treat it as a free consultation, ask what they believe you should prioritise in terms of spending or work on the property. No obligation, just expert advice from those who knows what the buyers are looking for. 

What do the estate agents hear?

There are certain aspects of a home which certain sectors of the market prioritise, and you can't please everybody all of the time. But all buyers have certain common 'wants' - agents hear them time and time again - so asking a professional to give you an honest appraisal of what you need to do to make your home saleable, makes financial and every other kind of sense.