One of the most frustrating things about selling a house is the amount of time that it takes to get things moving, and the huge amount of delays that are inevitable in almost any sale. We know how difficult it can be to deal with this, especially if you’re in need of a speedy sale, so we’ve put some top tips to help you speed up your sale!
1. Kerb appeal
Potential viewers can be put off your property before they even get in the house if there’s something outside they don’t like. To avoid this, you can take some time to improve your kerb appeal to entice them – it will also help your property stick in their mind and increase the chances of them putting in an offer on your house!
There are a few ways you can increase your kerb appeal, from taking care of unruly greenery to redecorating your front door if it’s scuffed. You don’t need to spend a lot of money doing this, but it can make a big difference, helping you get a buyer in early and avoiding a lot of time spent waiting for a viewer to put in an offer.
2. Declutter
If your property is full of memories and personal items, it can benefit you to do some decluttering before you have your advertising photos taken. Decluttering rooms will make them look bigger and cleaner, encouraging potential buyers to visit and see your property in person. Bad advertising photos can delay a sale indefinitely, so do what you can to make sure you’ve had a good spring clean before you take the photos.
3. Assess your asking price
One of the most common reasons homeowners struggle to sell is down to their asking price being wrong. Set it too high, and buyers will be put off as they know they can find a better deal elsewhere and don’t want to waste their time. Go too low, and anyone who sees the listing will think that there’s something wrong with the house, which is reflected in the price, and will not even look to see if there are any issues.
Generally, your estate agent will value your property when you sign up with them, but they will almost always overprice your property knowing that buyers will put in offers under this. While this seems like it’s a good idea, it can actually be damaging to your value, especially if you end up moving the price down as you will immediately knock value off your property. The best thing to do if you’re not sure if your house price is right is to do your own research. Look at what’s in your local area that’s similar to your house and see what their prices are. You can also look at how many properties that there are that are similar, to get an idea if you’re going to stand out on the market or not.
4. Look at alternative selling methods
Sometimes, even if you’ve done everything else right, you will still struggle to sell with an estate agent. Luckily, if this is the case for you, there are alternative methods that you can consider to speed things up. Popular options are to look at selling at an auction or go to a quick sale company. These methods don’t rely on you having to wait around for a buyer, so they allow you to sell much more quickly than on the open market. There are positives and negatives that come with every selling method, however, so you should do your research into all of these before deciding to ensure you are fully aware and are making the best decision for you.
These tips should help you when you’re looking to sell, reducing the stress of waiting for the right buyer and get you on your way to your new home!