Tips for selling in today’s property market

Despite recent reports of an increase in buyers coming to the market, there is no denying that those looking to sell their home this year are faced with a significant challenge.

However, email4property.co.uk, the largest network of local estate agent websites, has some expert advice on how to get it right in today’s market:

Get the right price: By obtaining several valuations you can be sure that the price of your property reflects today’s market. Do not allow yourself to be driven by prices in your area/street. If you need a quick sale, it may be to your advantage to undercut other sellers in your area. The more realistic you are about the value, the more likely you are of getting people through the door and achieving a sale.

Listen to the agent: Leave it to the agent to do any serious negotiating. It is in their interest to see that the deal is done, and like you, they will also want the property to achieve the best possible price. They have a greater capacity to be objective about your home, and they will be acutely aware of the local market and its limits.

Be clear and be ready: Now, more than ever, it helps to build trust with your potential buyer. Be clear about your own reasons for moving-on, time scales and flexibility, and be ready for questions about the property, neighbours and the locality.

Beware of guzundering: The best way to avoid this is by being upfront about any potential problems from the start. It may be tempting to skirt over any underlying issues that could impact on your return, but it is not worth the stress of being held to ransom at the eleventh hour. Buyers often site new concerns over potential problems with the property as a reason to lower their offer but if everything is out in the open from the start, buyers will have little excuse to do this.

Steve Lees, Head of Marketing at email4property.co.uk, comments:

“There is no denying that those wishing to sell their home this year will be faced with a significant challenge. However, the signs are positive that buyers may be slowly returning to the market, and while the competition may be fierce, there are simple measures people can take to secure a sale.

“Putting your home on the market at a realistic price and being upfront with your agent about any issues which could impact on future negotiations, should ensure the smoothest route to finding a serious buyer in today’s market.”