Property Passion- Selling your Property

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Selling your House

	Thinking of selling your home? At Property Passion we are dedicated to taking the mystery, and often frustration, out of selling your property by providing you with $imple $mart $olutions.
Click on the following links for further details or click to print a copy:

		Presentation Less is more Depersonalise Clean and clean again! Open up the house Create the "mood" First impressions Choosing an Agent Setting the price Marketing plan Property Flyer
Presentation
Presentation is Gold!! Buyers are looking for a clean, well maintained property so make yours stand out from the competition by being exceptionally presented – anything you can do to give your property an edge (and a higher price) will be well worth the effort. Stand back and take an objective look at your house - would you buy it? Download our free template to help prepare your property for sale and give it the edge- and that extra special touch.
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	Less is more
	Buyers need to be able to freely move around during an inspection, so remove excess furniture – remember, less is more. It is often a good idea to move, or remove completely, any items that obstruct free movement – for example, coffee tables, hall tables, side tables or chairs positioned in the middle of the room.
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Depersonalise and de-clutter
Depersonalise and de-clutter Buyers need to be able to envisage themselves living in a property, so pack away family portraits and memorabilia. We also advise removing ornaments and any other personal items of display. However, to ensure the property still looks “lived in”, it is a good idea to leave the odd vase, pot or other decorative item – especially if you have fireplaces or shelving. If you have a lot of excess clutter that you no longer need, consider having a Garage Sale, or taking your unwanted goods to the local Charity Shop Depot. It is also imperative that you remove all valuables, as well as small items that could be easily taken from the house, such as CD’s, DVD’s and suchlike.
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	Clean, clean and clean again!
	Clean the house from "top to toe" until it shines – from wiping down skirting boards to dusting the ceiling for cobwebs. Give everything a good scrub or polish, but don’t go overboard with chemicals or polishes as you don’t want your house to smell like a hospital! Pay particular attention to the bathroom and the kitchen as these areas really do need to be spotless, as they may put buyers off. We do not suggest that you light incense or spray air-freshener in every room, but do ensure that room are all aired and not "stuffy". To ensure this, you may wish to open a number of doors and windows a short time before the viewing begins.

Q. Do you know what the number one reason that turns buyers away? A. The answer is "bad odours", so clean all pet areas regularly.

Once you have finished cleaning, take a break – and then do one quick final clean – you are bound to find something else that you previously missed!
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Open up the house
Open curtains as wide as they can possibly go in order to allow light to filter in. If you have net curtains, it is usually best to remove them completely. Try not to block any windows with furniture, for example, move that bed or chest of draws over to the other side of the room

Create the "mood"
Consider the mood you wish to create. For example, in a warm climate, keep bedding crisp and pale, and colour schemes light and bright. However, if it is winter and the climate is cold, consider darker bedding, cushions and, throws etc to create a warmer, more cosy atmosphere. In such a climate, also consider lighting the fireplace in the lounge room if you have one.
Putting on some quiet background music is commonplace – we cannot count the number of houses we have visited many houses that have had "Enya" playing soulfully in the background. Some vendors go as far as baking bread or preparing fresh coffee – although it really isn’t necessary to go to these extremes.
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		First Impressions
		First impressions really do count, so pay particular attention to the front of the house. Put out a new, clean "welcome" mat at the front entrance, polish the house number plate if you have one, and place some pots of flowering annuals near the front door. If you have a garden it is vital that the grass is mowed and the edges clipped. Adding new woodbark chippings is a great way to freshen up tired borders – as well as adding a few plants.

$mart Tip: Replace light globes with those of a higher wattage in order to produce more light.
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Choosing an Agent
For most people their home is their largest single asset so when it comes time to sell you need to select a Real Estate Agent carefully. Firstly you need to feel confident about the agent and this can be determined by asking the following questions:
What industry experience do you have? Are you familiar with the area and price range our house will be listed? Can you provide a reference from a previous seller? How many homes have you sold in the area recently? How many days do you work and is the office open 7 days per week? What feedback will you provide us with? How do you qualify potential buyers?
Generally, a Real Estate Agent should have a professional image, be committed to the industry, and display a high standard of personal grooming
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	Setting the Price
	Take care when establishing a list price, if overpriced it simply won’t sell, and when you do reduce the price buyers will know it was excessive and may still consider it to be overpriced. On the other hand underpricing your home could mean it will sell quickly, but you could loose potential profits.
Your agent should be able to provide you with the details of at least 3 similar properties that have sold nearby. Ask them how they arrived at a particular listing price. A good agent should be able to justify and explain their decision. The main factors that influence price are the location and condition of your home, and the proximity to facilities such as schools, shops and transport. One of the best ways to select an agent is to ask friends for recommendations.
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Marketing Plan
As part of your interview process to select an agent ask them how they intend to market your property. An agent should be able to offer you a choice of advertising in local newspapers and publications, the internet, and open houses. Carefully consider the issue of an open house carefully before you agree, as effectively you are inviting strangers off the street into your home that have not been pre-approved as potential buyers. Agents often use “open houses” as a way of redirecting people to other homes they have listed in the area. The agent should also provide a full explanation of advertising costs and commission.
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Property Flyer
To give your home the $mart advantage asks the agent to prepare a "flyer" on your property. This should be printed on glossy A4 paper and contain several colour photographs of your property. The flyer should include full text descriptions (not abbreviations) of the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and car accommodation. The article should highlight the most saleable features of your home and include the distance to shops, schools and transport. The agent should hand all potential buyers a flyer, which will act as a reminder of the property. They can take it home and look and dream of living in your house.

Final say
If you have priced your home within 5-10% of its true value, and have it well presented then it should sell within an 8 – 10 week period. If not review you price, presentation and marketing.
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