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Selling
your house could be a long and a tedious process. You could make this an
exciting experience by following our guide to selling homes.
1. Homework:
An initial preparation could go a long way in selling your house:
· Ensure all monthly maintenance
bills are paid (electricity, telephone, society bills, etc.)
· Keep a copy of all original
documents in place (agreements, floor plan, permissions, ...certificates, etc.)
2.
Understanding the buyer:
It is hard to pinpoint what is going on in the mind of the potential buyers.
Time-wasters abound, along with fake buyers who get their dose by torturing
sellers. But without dipping into
too much psychological analysis, it is possible to decode some of their motives
by asking these questions:
· What can they afford? How much are
they prepared to pay?
· How will they fund it?
· Are they familiar with the
area/location?
· When do they want to move in?
There
are different types of buyer. An understanding of the type of buyer can help you
manage your expectations in selling your home. If a potential buyer meets one of
these descriptions, you can count on the following positives and negatives:
· First-time
buyers may :
· have a very tight budget.
· Spend more as result of the demands by lenders
· Arrange loans quickly and benefit from the
incentives.
·
Cash buyers (not taking loan):
· Since they are using their own cash, they may want to spend less.
· May take more time to decide
·
Buyers with no house to sell:
· Will need loan to make fresh investment in a house
· Will most likely be able to move at a time that suits seller, unless they are
tied up
..into a rental agreement
· May have a tight budget
·
Buyers with house to sell:
· No guarantee on timing because they must find a buyer for their own property.
· Availability of funds would depend on sale proceeds from the old house.
· Purchase of new house funded from sale proceeds and loan.
3.
Tips for showing your home :
Setting
the scene for the potential buyer is all very well, but make sure that you do
not appear to be trying too hard. Putting
new upholstery and playing classical music are all very well, but that is not
what will lure the buyer. We’ll tell you what will.
· Light the way to the passage/front door and make sure that it is neat (first
impression
..is created by the door)
· Leave the gate open invitingly
· Make sure that house appears clean (including windows).
· Arrange the furniture so that you make the best use of space.
· Keep the lights on even during the day to provide a bright feel.
· Keep the windows open.
· Avoid showing home during lunch/dinner hours.
Many potential buyers get turned away due to smell of food
· Avoid use of air fresheners but use flowers instead in living room.
· Keep pets out of sight
· Turn off televisions and allow the visitor to think and make notes.
· Pay attention to small details and complete necessary repairs by replacing
dead light
..bulbs, broken switches and door
handles.
· Keep bathrooms and kitchens sparking clean and smelling fresh
· End the tour in the best room so that everyone leaves with a good impression.
4.
Other tips:
· Don’t make promises you won’t
be able to keep
· Always be polite and convincing.
· Be accommodating when arranging
viewing times
· Make sure your agent/broker is
aware of all the positive aspects of your home
· Select a professional agent
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