Selling this Summer?

Ultimately the job of any reputable estate agent is to market a property showcasing its best features in order to:

·         Find a buyer who is offering the best price

·         Ensuring the property sale progresses smoothly and in the shortest possible timeframe 

To achieve this a seller can help themselves and here are a few tips;

·         Spring-clean. Buyers love being greeted by a sparking, decluttered home.  High-strength warm lightbulbs and clean windows will also make rooms look lighter.

·         Remove signs of a makeshift office from the dining room table, clear away kids’ toys and turn the junk room back into a bedroom.

·         Developers spend a fortune on their show-flats.  There is a reason for this! If your property is empty, consider having it professionally dressed – it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune and you should get the money back in the increased price you achieve. You could always use the furniture as an incentive to incoming buyers. We can advise you!

·         Listen to feedback given by past viewers. For example, if everybody thought that a hallway was poky you can buy mirrors to enhance the feel of space.  Perhaps a lick of off-white paint too?

·         Tidy the garden or outside space. If a flat, and the approach is owned by a neighbour, then offer free help to clear it thus providing a great first impression.

·         Think website portals and try to hit their price points.  For example, if your home is worth in the region of £410,000 then market it on for a guide price of £400,000 to £425,000 or you may omit those looking for £400,000 (who may well be prepared to pay more than their original budget to secure your beautiful home!).

·         Finally, if your property has been on with another agent, and you are not in a desperate rush, then I recommend a 14-week break from the market as it will then show as a new instruction rather than a price reduction on the portals.  This will achieve a much higher response.

I hope this helps. Please don’t fall into the mindset that any viewer will see the potential as it is not true – show them!

About Simon Hughes
Having co-founded the group back in 1999, I ensure the smooth running in all aspects of the business from Sales & Lettings to Land & New Homes and our fee-free Independent Mortgage Advice offering too.

I am on the National Advisory Council for The Guild of Property Professionals (to which we are the chosen local member) where I help to make decisions for the network – who have 825 offices across the United Kingdom.

I love being hands-on with the business on a day-to-day basis and am particularly passionate about Land and New Homes. I am fully accountable for all new home developments and ensuring the relationship between agent and developer is strong via first-class communication and, of course, success.

I am also qualified as an Independent Mortgage Adviser and still, to this day, advise customer specifically regarding equity release solutions.

For downtime, apart from chasing around after my three children, I play hockey, golf (am fortunate enough to be a member of the oldest golf club in England, which is right on our doorstep; being Royal Blackheath), and am big into skiing.