Estate agents often feel awkward giving this advice
Here are a few things to look out for before getting ready for your viewings
One of an estate agent's responsibilities is to deliver honest advice to homeowners and occasionally, personal relationships or the risk of causing offence can stand in the way of open and honest communication.
As an estate agent myself, I can empathise with the worries many agents have when giving advice that could be badly received by a client. Let’s be honest, none of us enjoy awkward conversations, or worse, conflict. Having said that, selling a property isn’t something that you do every day. In most cases, property moves are years - or even decades - apart. It’s important that as a seller, you have the best advice at hand to increase your chances of selling.
Here are a few observations that may help to increase your chances of selling your home for the best price:
Pets
If you have a pet, you will know that they are a huge part of the family. In fact, I often joke that my dog Cooper is our “company mascot.”
I love him dearly, but not everybody will. When presenting your home for both marketing and viewings, it's helpful to make sure your four-legged friends are out of the house. There are two reasons for this:
- The person viewing your home may be allergic or fearful of animals. Knowing there’s an animal present could make them uncomfortable while viewing or prevent them from enquiring.
- Less obvious, but the potential buyer may LOVE animals! If your furry friend loves attention, they could become a real distraction on the appointment. The viewer might not pay full attention to the wonderful features of your home. From a sales point of view – we don’t want any distractions.
Odd jobs
You might be thinking: “Surely people can see past the small things?" Most buyers will understand that painting a wall or fixing a tap is no more than a few hours of work. For that reason, they will take small imperfections and snags in their stride. But not all buyers will. Sometimes, small jobs can become big barriers to purchase. If you've had several viewings but no constructive feedback or offers - consider checking through your home for quick fixes. Tending to tiny jobs can have a big impact when it comes to those all-important first impressions.
Leave the property
Where possible, it’s best to let your estate agent handle your viewings with an empty home. Having a ‘neutral person’ hosting the visit will often relax the buyer. We want them to feel at home, and feel free to explore. Often this will allow them the space to take it all in and enjoy their visit. It also tends to lead to a more fluent conversation with honest feedback. Regardless of their opinion of your home, because you’re the homeowner, they won’t want to offend you. It might be nice, but curated feedback isn’t helpful for your sale. The estate agent will usually receive an honest insight into the pros and cons of your property, through the eyes of your viewer. This is crucial.
If you want to get in touch with us for other tips on how to help sell your home, why not try us on our WhatsApp
