With the Highveld Spring ending, the seasonal increasing attendance at show days is happening - as it does at this time every year.
READ: 7 Upgrades that will improve your home's kerb appeal dramatically
According to Ronald Ennik, principal and founder of real estate agency Ennik Estates, it is a time when passive buyers tend to become active. A period when there is usually more see-and-do, than wait-and-see, in the Johannesburg/Sandton residential property market. Granted, the buy/sell tempo will remain restricted to a large extent by the persistent poor socio-economic and -political challenges the country continues to face. To buy a house, you need to personally experience the house. The digital route is no substitute at this point.
Advice to buyers
Start getting into a routine of saving this year's Spring and Summer Sunday afternoons in order to visit as many show days as possible - to see as much as you can, and ask many questions along the way. "That is the best - and, I believe, only - way to assess a house accurately and attentively enough to decide if it is tailored pretty much to fit their needs, and offers the lifestyle they want. Conversely, homeowners who cling like ivy to the 'view-by-appointment" formula will more than likely sell themselves short.
The reality is that Sunday show days remain vital to achieving the best outcome both on selling and buying a home - not least because at least 40 per cent of buyers are averse to visiting 'for-sale' homes on weekdays. Their schedules are too full these days. A structured marketing campaign - with show days, through sole mandate, as its centerpiece - is and will remain - the best route to securing maximum price.
READ: 5 small upgrades that add value to your home
Why a show day?
Here are just some of the good reasons to have a Sunday show day if you're a seller and some good reasons to visit a show day if you're a buyer.
Sellers
- The show house can be "stage set" to look its best.
- Many buyers can view the house over a period of hours rather than weeks.
- If the house is not on show, the target market is inevitably halved - because many buyers will visit houses only on show days.
- More prospective buyers view the property in a much shorter time
- Buyers are able to make comparisons more quickly by viewing other show houses on the same day.
- The buyer has the freedom to discuss the property in an uninhibited way, as the seller is not normally present.
- The seller avoids the inconvenience - particularly on weekdays - of constantly preparing the home for viewing by appointment.
- Neighbours are able to see the property and possibly tempt friends or relatives to live near them.
READ: Do sellers need to do a home inspection? Weighing up the pros and cons
Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, cautions that not all upgrades are equal and, whilst many will deliver on returns, there are some remodels that can work against you and could even make your home less desirable, ( article published, Oct 2022, 'Renovations that add value to your home and those that don’t')
“Some renovations will actually cost you money in the long run. Just because you regard something as an improvement doesn’t mean that potential buyers will feel the same way – and you could significantly decrease the pool of potential buyers if you’re not careful.”
According to Geffen, these are some of the upgrades that will lower your home’s value:
- Outbuilding your neighbour
- Too much carpeting
- Bright and old colours
- Amalgamating bedrooms to create a bigger room
- Removing closets
- A hot tub
- DIY projects
What to do if you are thinking of selling
Look at other properties in the area and make sure your home does not stand out because it is too big and elaborate, or poorly maintained.
Call in an experienced agent who has sold houses similar to yours in the area. The agent can provide you with a valuation and advice in terms of any maintenance to be undertaken.
Ensuring your property is in a good, sellable condition will greatly improve your chances of securing an offer and a sale.
READ: Here's what really great locations have in common, along with 6 tips for first-time homebuyers
Ennik shares advice for buyers:
- Buyers can view a number of properties at their leisure.
- They are able to show/bring family or advisors.
- Buyers are able to discuss their needs and the property freely.
- Buyers are able to ask questions and build a relationship with the local agent.
- They are able to experience the properties using all their senses. And notice aspects not evident online.
- Show days create an advantage to see many properties in a short period of time. Essential to establish correct values in the neighbourhood.
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