Page 22 - The Local Eye - Issue 130 August 2016

22
Derek J.Rolls

ASK THE EXPERT

Q....What issues do you need to consider if you’re selling this time of year?

A.... Somewhere around mid-July, the property market always slows a little. If you
are going away, leave a key and contact details with your agent so they can feed back
on viewings and any offers. Failing that, leaving a key with a family member, friend
or neighbour means you won’t risk missing the odd buyer who happens to be around in
high summer when you’re not!

This is also a good time to re-evaluate every aspect of your marketing. Timescale, for
example: from September to Christmas is a little less than 14 weeks - and a sale can
take at least 12 weeks from finding a buyer to handing over the keys, what is your
timescale? So, do you want to get moved before Christmas or aren’t you bothered?

Next price. This is the key determinant in selling anything, so it needs to be right.
If you are selling for say, £375,000, go onto one of the major portals and check
out properties in your general postcode area priced at £300-£450,000. Is yours the
most expensive property of its type? If so, you should have a serious talk with your
agent about the price. Also, I would avoid advertising in a price band, such as £450-
£500,000. More and more buyers want transparency in transactions. Price bands - and
devices like ‘offers in excess of’ - don’t help people decide where to pitch an offer.
Remember, you want to do everything you can to encourage offers, not discourage
them!

Similarly, does your property stand out online? First impressions are critical. Imagine
a buyer scrolling down a page of quite similar properties. What will get them to click
through to yours? Has the agent missed a really key feature in the heading? Is the
photograph the best one? Make sure you and your agent are singing from the same
hymn sheet.

Incidentally, some agents are targeted on the number of viewings they achieve, not the
quality. Nothing worse than a buyer with a walking stick turning up to view a 4th floor
flat without a lift! The moral: make sure your agent doesn’t simply qualify viewers by
price…
So, there you are. Once you’re confident that you’ve got all your ducks in a row, it’s
time to go and enjoy the beach!

Independent Estate Agents & Valuers
To advertise <> 08000 430485 <> email: info@thelocaleye.com <> www.thelocaleye.com

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