There are two types of people in the world: those who make plans and those who simply allow life to plan itself.
Last on your to-do list is to find an agent whose advice you can trust.For those belonging to the latter category, you might want to partner with somebody who belongs to the former when selling your home.
Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says there are multiple factors that need to be considered when putting a house on the market. He says sellers who do not have a plan in place are likely to find it difficult to make a timeous sale.
First impressions count, so you want to make sure that your house is ‘selling ready’ long before you put it on the market. The best way to achieve this is to have a checklist in place to ensure that you have not overlooked any important factors that might affect the sale of your property.
Who better to ask for advice around this topic than a real estate professional who has been in the industry since 1986 and a part of the RE/MAX team since 1996? Gail Compton, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Tricolor operating in the Westville, Pinetown and Cowies Hill regions in KZN, shares tips about what items to add to your pre-selling checklist.
1. Make sure building plans are in order
For starters, you need to check that all building plans are up to date and approved. Many homeowners forget to secure official planning approval before making renovations to their homes. When potential buyers find out about this, they may take their offer off the table because they do not want to deal with the repercussions if the plans are not approved.
2. Pay attention to detail
Next, you need to go through the property with the ‘eyes of a potential buyer’, paying particular attention to any defects or maintenance issues. These then need to be repaired and remedied accordingly.
Still looking through your home with an objective gaze, you should be able to pick up on items that are cluttering up the space. Apart from making the rooms appear smaller, having too many personal items scattered throughout your house makes it more difficult for buyers to envision their own belongings in your space. You want to create as much of a ‘blank canvas’ as possible for them. Arrange to do a thorough spring clean and remove any clutter. This should be done before an agent comes to take photographs for marketing the home.
3. Find a trustworthy agent
Last on your to-do list is to find an agent whose advice you can trust. It is never a good idea to look at what a property has been advertised at and to assume that this is the price that a buyer will pay. Overpriced properties aren’t like red wine that gets better with age. They are like milk: they go sour very quickly. It is best to find somebody who knows the area and can price your home at a point that will secure a sale.
While no amount of planning can guarantee a sale, following through on these points before putting your house on the market will help you make the best first impression possible – a factor that plays a pivotal role in the sale of your home.
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