Hi lovelies,

Selling your property quickly is always a wise idea, no matter what the motivation for putting it on the market is.  The longer the home is on the market, the less desirable it is, so a speedy sale really is of the essence.  

Here are some of our top tips for getting that house or apartment sale done and dusted as quickly as possible.

Hire an expert real-estate agent
Hiring a good real estate agent is the first step to take as soon as you make a decision to put your property on the market.  They will serve as the key point of contact for both you and prospective buyers by arranging the viewings, drawing up your listings, and advertising your property.

Homes sold without an agent typically go for thousands of dollars less than if they were sold by an experienced seller. The explanation is that selling your home without an agent is unpredictable, time-consuming, and hard work. If you do not know what you are doing, you are putting yourself on a massive backfoot.

Make sure it is spotless, inside and out
Before you put your property on the market, spend a bit of time and money on making sure that it is in tip-top condition. Get rid of any unwanted items and de-clutter - put some of your personal belongings in storage if necessary, as potential buyers need to be able to imagine what it would be like with their own things in there.  

If there are things that stand out to you, get them fixed ASAP! If you can spot them, the people viewing your property definitely will! Get your heating and cooling systems fixed and examine the cracks in the wall. All these issues may be a pain to fix but it is these issues that can take a chunk off the final offer because the buyer will argue that they will have to invest more into the property to get it up to code, and they’re not wrong!

Freshen up paintwork, clean up or replace carpets, make sure the garden is neat and tidy, and give everywhere a thorough clean. If you have any suspicion that your property might be harbouring any unwanted visitors, now is the time to call in the professionals, such as a bed bug exterminator or pest control specialist, and get rid before buyers spot anything.

Be realistic about your listing price
It seems almost reasonable to list your home at the highest possible price. Buyers are bound to try to bargain it down anyway, aren't they? 

Unfortunately, this is not how it works at all.

Often, buyers don't have the time or inclination to search out homes that would involve negotiation. They just want to put a sensible offer in and have it accepted without any hassle.

When you list your house at a price that is too high, buyers won't show much interest. When no one makes a bid, it will inevitably become an outdated listing. If your listing goes stale and remains on the market for too long without any bids, the buyer's agents will start to smell blood in the water and you may end up with a lower offer than you hoped.

When pricing up your property, the best thing you can do is look at the prices of similar ones in the area and set a figure accordingly. When you list your home by market value, you are going to trigger a bidding war and you're likely to receive an offer that's at, close, or possibly even higher than the starting price.