Selling your home? How to speed up the process
So your home has been sitting on the market for weeks, maybe months. It’s not the biggest or best house, but it’s in a nice area and there’s nothing wrong with it that you can see – so why is nobody showing any interest? There might be many factors that are playing a part in the lack of success – here’s how to reverse the problem:
Depersonalise
It doesn’t matter where where you live; if your home is full of personal items and effects visitors might struggle to imagine themselves living inside. Anyone who has different views of what is acceptable in a home, such items and memorabilia might find your certificates or photos an instant turn-off. Make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in the home by removing the personal clutter and keep that safe for your new home!
Revitalise
Buyers don’t want to go through the process of spending tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds on a home, only to then shell out on repairs and redecorations. Imagine yourself touring a home that is riddled with little problems and flaws that need rectifying – alarm bells might start ringing immediately, because if the seller can’t be bothered to put in the work to fix these issues what other skeletons lurk in the cupboard?
Make your home as modern and perfect as possible without breaking the bank; that means fixing any taps and fittings, repairing squeaky doors and fixing any errant skirting boards. Redecorate and de-clutter your rooms for the purposes of staging photographs, which will be beneficial when you come to move. A decision might need to be made on an old-fashioned kitchen or bathroom – ripping it out and replacing it might push up the value of the home by more than the cost of the work, and it also saves the potential buyer having to bother.
Online sales
Online estate agents such as HouseSimple continue to change the way homes are sold, pushing sales through more quickly and cheaply than their high street counterparts. Most charge a flat rate for completing the sale, rather than a (more expensive) percentage, and the sales are usually faster as agents can target several hundred sites in one go. The sale work – valuation, floor plans, photography, etc – is usually part of the deal.
Self-marketing
As well as the benefits that an online estate agent confers, you can also market your house yourself – for free. Social media is a great tool for picking up a younger audience, by searching and using hashtags on Twitter to pinpoint particular audiences – those moving to a specific area, for example. Good photographs, links to local news, events or amenities of interest, and videos can all enrich the experience. Failing that, try the more traditional routes such as newspapers.
Disclosure: This post was brought to you in collaboration with HouseSimple. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make JuggleMum possible.