Downsizing is both exciting and scary. It’s exciting because you are looking forward to a new phase of your life. There are lots of reasons for downsizing – health issues, wanting to spend time doing other activities, not wanting to spend time or money on maintenance. It’s scary, particularly if you have been in your home for a long time, because you are making a big change.
Having your property on the market is very unsettling because you are in limbo and can’t move on until you have sold. So you want to sell as soon as possible. Part of that is getting your property in front of as many people as possible. So I have a few tips.
For Sale Board
Today when so much house hunting is done online it is easy to imagine that a For Sale board might not be necessary. I know that some people do not like having a board, they value their privacy or they don’t want the neighbours to know. However, I am a big fan of For Sale boards as a means of maximising the visibility of a property. Potential buyers may not all be looking online. Sometimes buyers want to be on a particular road and they are waiting for something to come up. A board can be the first sign of a property coming to market. A friend may spot it and let the buyer know. There is always the possibility of passing trade especially if your property is on a road that has a good throughput of traffic.
Identify Your Property
From my experience in estate agency, actually finding the house you are coming to view may not always be as simple as it sounds. Yes many of us have sat nav but not everyone does and it isn’t always accurate especially in more rural areas. There have been plenty of occasions when I have driven up and down a road trying to find a particular house number or name. Having a For Sale board is one aspect of making your property visible but if you don’t want a board then you definitely need to make your property easy to find. I am talking here about having your house number or house name on the gate post (not on the doorframe) so you can easily see it from the road. Cut back any greenery that is obstructing it. You don’t want your viewers arriving feeling frustrated. It also worth remembering that a lot of people will do a “drive by” i.e. will drive past a property before booking a viewing in order to check out its location and appearance
Kerb Appeal
This is a topic I keep coming back to – and for a reason. First impressions really do count and what buyers see when they pull up at a house can make all the difference, in some cases even to whether the viewing actually goes ahead. It can be important to people how attractive a property looks from the outside even though they don’t live outside, they may want to impress guests or simply get a sense of happiness when they arrive home at the end of the day. So make sure the approach to the property such as a fence or gates is well tended, the lawn is mown, that any woodwork has been painted etc. Consider replacing door furniture and painting the front door, check the door bell works and have some freshly planted hanging baskets or pots.
So to ensure maximum visibility to get seen by the greatest number of viewers – have a For Sale Board, check that the number or name of your house can easily be seen from the road and give your home kerb appeal.
To learn how call me on 07745 876182 or e mail me at judith@homestyle4u.com. I cover the Wirral, Cheshire and the North West – Don’t Move Home Without Me!