Lancaster & Morecambe 01524 843322
Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2018
As each year comes to a close, it’s a question on many a home sellers mind. As an estate agent who wants your business it easy for me to say yes, change agents. After all, just like other estate agents, I want your business. I want to be the agent to sell your home. However, before we look at that option, I want you to look at these 3 areas closely. This is what we as an estate look at first.
You need to be honest. Is your home priced fairly? I’m not talking about what you want or even what you think need. Is it priced fairly against other similar houses which are both for sale and recently sold? Remember buyers are going to compare your home to these houses. Do you offer good value for money? If you are priced higher, why? Ask yourself this. What does your home offer that the other properties don’t? What makes your asking price worth it? You and your agent both need to know!
Take a look at how your home is presented by both yourself and by your agent. Walk around your home, looking at each room harshly. Do you look cluttered? Have you got cereal boxes on tops of the kitchen cupboards? Do you have your shampoo bottles around your bathtub? Look at your bedding. Is it fresh, crisp and coordinated? In your lounge are cushions plumped up. Do your windows sparkle? Is your garden trimmed back? All of these things are important. It’s what a potential buyer sees when they look at your brochure.
Next look at your brochure. Would you buy your home based on the photos? Would you consider booking a viewing? Superb photos are essential. You and your agent need to work together to ensure they look good. I say to many a client this. Why do developers have show homes? Think about it! Just make sure your photos re honest. Unsure what I mean? Take a quick read here
This really is down to your estate agent. However, you need to ask the following questions. Where is your home being advertised? What websites? Is Rightmove the only portal they use or are they on Zoopla and Prime Location too What is there social media presence like? How big is their current mailing list? Is it up to date (if you hear they have 1000’s of buyers it most certainly isn’t!) Do they use it? In fact, if you are looking to move locally are they informing you of other potential homes for sale? Do you have a for sale board?
How are you getting on? Can you see any changes you need to make yet? I am sure you can. If your home hasn’t sold, I am sure there are a few.
The next question to ask is why did you choose your current agent? If you chose them because they gave you the highest price or indeed the lowest fee, you really should look at changing.
Highest Price. Sadly some agents, do tell you what you would like to hear. What did you honestly think your home was worth before they came out to see you?
Lowest fee. A low cost agent quite often has to cut service. This might be in where there advertise. It might be in the number of staff they employ. It could be they have basic software or no high street office. Your home is your biggest asset. It needs the best service to get you the best price.
Ok. So we have looked at the price, we have looked at your presentation and we have discussed the presentation. We have briefly talked about overvaluing and a low-cut price service. The next and most important factor to me is your agent's current service.
1. Do you like them? If not, change agents now.
2. Are you getting viewings? If you are great!
3. Are you getting feedback from the viewings? You should be.
4. Is your agent really trying? Are they making suggestions to you? You may not like the suggestion, but are they trying to offer solutions?
No agent can promise to sell your home. However, at JDG we promise to try. We believe we can. We believe we are the best. Our sales results speak for themselves. They really speak volumes. In 2018 we have agreed just over 40% more sales than our nearest competitor and over double the next!
A new year is a new start. It brings a whole new batch of house hunters. In fact, these new searchers appear just after a Christmas with web traffic on the property portals being at it’s almost highest on Boxing Day. Would a new start, a new agent, a fresh approach and renewed energy help your home sell? Let me know what you decide!
Ps. If you are happy with your current agent, please may I give you a simple tip to help freshen things up? Ask your agent to re-photo your home. New photo’s from different angles can work wonders!
