Your home is probably worth more money than anything else you own, and if you sell it, you'll, of course, want the best price possible.
But getting that price (and getting there quickly) usually comes down to a lot more than putting up a For Sale sign outside and hoping for the best. You need to choose the right real estate agent, agree on a realistic price to put your home on the market, and make your property as attractive as possible to potential buyers.
It's a daunting prospect for many homeowners and sometimes expert advice is what you need to make the most of your property sale.
“In today's challenging real estate market, knowledge is power,” emphasizes developer Elaine Penhaul, author of the new book How to Sell Your House. “Smart sales tactics are about making good judgment when appointing the right real estate agent and understanding visual selling methods in a digital age, where more people buy without even walking through the door of a property.”
Penhaul, founder of home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors, explains that selling has three stages: preparation, promotion and progression.
“With the right preparation and promotion, you can maximize your asset in both property value and speed of sale,” he says. “Visual appeal, both in person and online, is very important.”
Penhaul says ways to make the most of your property sale include taking quality photographs, using videography, creating a social media strategy, and staging the home.
She says: “Staging a home is just one part of the marketing mix: it makes the home more attractive to a larger number of potential buyers. Creating beautiful, functional spaces that suggest a lifestyle for the owner or buyer can not only create an emotional connection for potential buyers, but also increase the likelihood of securing a quick sale at the best possible price.”
Penhaul says the secrets to a successful sale can be found through his seven-step DIRECTION system: Assess, Sort, Decorate, Reimagine, Emphasize, Organize and Sell.
1. Evaluate
With your real estate agent, find out who your ideal buyer is, the profile of people who buy houses like yours in your area and evaluate what your house offers them, advises Penhaul.
Assess the competition in your neighborhood by doing a simple online search on a website like Rightmove, looking in your price range and comparing what you have to offer with other homes your buyer may be looking at. Next, decide how much work you need to do on your home before taking any marketing photos or videos.
Penhaul says: “Take pictures of your house, what do you see? Create a portfolio of images that capture what appeals to you about the homes you see – what do they have in common? How much clutter do you have? What condition are your garden and outbuildings in? Will your exterior décor entice a buyer to look at it or just walk by? Does your internal decor look worn or dated?
2. Sort
Penhaul says decluttering is often the most difficult stage and should be done before decorating or remodeling rooms.
Get boxes, labels and markers, then stack everything: “leave it where it is,” “put away but pack it up for now,” “throw it away,” he advises. Then book a skip, charity collection or auction.
“Have the kids pick up their stuff if they've moved but haven't,” she suggests.
Take the “discard” pile out of the house and take it to its final destination, decide if you have room at home to store the “keep but pack now” pile or if you need to find off-site storage, and “clean and clean again.” ” he says, adding: “Find a friend or professional to help you; an unbiased opinion can help you make decisions quickly.”
3. Decorate
Penhaul suggests painting the walls a neutral color for maximum impact on the buyer and performing patch tests on the walls, as lighting variations will affect the color. He also considers the ceilings, carpentry and exterior carpentry, such as doors and windows, as well as interior walls.
“Try not to choose to paint just one room, as this could make other rooms look tired,” she notes. “And make minor repairs as you find them; Don't just paint over cracks, dings and stains. “It aims to give the home a subtle, fresh feel to make it attractive to a wide range of buyers.”
4. Reimagine
Consider how someone else might choose to use the rooms in your home, Penhaul advises.
“Does each room have a clearly defined function and is it relevant to the majority of buyers you think will be interested in purchasing your home?” she asks. “If not, you need to rearrange your furniture to define the function more clearly. The flow of the house should also make sense: make sure the bedrooms connect to the sleeping rooms and create an easy route through the house.”
5. EmphasizeSmartly emphasize your home's best features and draw attention away from anything less than ideal, Penhaul advises.
“What areas are the standout features and what do you like most about them?” she asks. “Perhaps you have an incredible conservatory, a cozy window seat, a contemporary kitchen or a sumptuous bathroom?
“Then consider how to visually tell the story of these areas to your viewers: lifestyle images with books on the coffee table in a reading nook with houseplants and light around them can provide a true representation of relaxation, For example”.
She suggests making a list of props that can be helpful when preparing a staging before photography.
6. Stage
Penhaul explains, “Staging is where you bring everything together and put all the props, furniture, and extra accessories in place.”
This may involve hiring a staging company to help you rent furniture and accessories; Penhaul notes that this will be more cost-effective than buying a new one.
“If you're organizing your own home using things you already have, think about the focal point of each room and how to create symmetry and balance for maximum effect,” she advises. “Seek help creating the perfect sets in your home from a friend or his professional stager.”
Hire a photographer to come immediately after staging is complete, so there's no chance of messing things up again, he says.
7. SellMake sure everything is ready so that when you accept an offer, the sale can progress quickly. This includes appointing an attorney, signing paperwork, and making sure your agent has all the documents and information a potential buyer may request.
“Be proactive with your agent and attorney on a weekly basis and ensure your sale has the best chance of going through in the best way possible,” Penhaul emphasizes.
How to Sell Your House by Elaine Penhaul is published by Rethink Press, priced £16.99. Available now.
