Increasing the selling power of your home with these hot tips

There is no doubt that we are in a time of uncertainty and there’s a lot of concern about what the
future may bring. A September survey by Property Rescue, conducted by Perspectus Global,
revealed that of 1,000 UK-based homeowners questioned 65% are worried and anxious about rising
inflation and interest rates. Therefore, if you’re planning to sell your home this year, you want to
ensure it sells quickly and doesn’t sit languishing on the market for months on end. With this in
mind, our team at James Neave have put together some hot tips to increase the selling power of
your home.

Get a broker

Forecasts suggest that it is likely that interest rates could rise over the next 18 months, therefore
having a mortgage in principle, especially with a fixed rate, seems the best option. But make sure
you shop around; we highly recommend that you use a mortgage broker. We know we keep saying
it, but they have the ability to look at deals that you may not have access to, some of which could be
available for just a couple of hours.

In the words of Martin Lewis: “Mortgage brokers are worth their weight in gold now. Get yourself a
mortgage broker.”

Quality marketing

One way to grab a buyer’s attention is through the imagery used for your property’s marketing
campaign. Nothing entices us more than a striking image. This is why you need to make sure that the
estate agent you choose will do your home justice. You want to try to get photographs taken whilst
the weather isn’t as grey and miserable can winter bring, so you can maximise on natural light.
You need a negotiator

It is important to do your research so you understand the property market; house price indexes are
a good place to state, but look at overall trends. When speaking to an estate agent you want to see
what their strategy is to achieve you the highest possible price. What you are looking for is an
experienced negotiator, one that won’t settle for the first offer but sees it as the starting point. It
needs to be priced right from the start – priced too high and your home may become stagnant as it
won’t attract potential buyers.

Help reduce delays

Delays are one of the curses in home moves, they increase nerves, and doubts start to take hold.
This is why the sales process is the hardest part of selling your home: it is the time where homes
complete and others fall through. Having a strong and experienced estate agent who is on top of
your sale at all times, proactively monitoring the situation and resolving issues before and as they
arise, is an absolute must.

You can also play your part by creating a pack for your buyer that includes all the documents,
certificates and permissions relating to your home, such as electrical certificates, your boiler service
record, any planning permissions and sign-offs from building regulations as well as documents
related to rights of way etc. Not only will this help speed up the process but will also show your
buyer your commitment and transparency with the sale of your home.

Energy efficiency

Having an energy efficient property will be an advantage, especially with the cost-of-living crisis; are
there any measures you can take in your home? Improving insulation, double glazing, servicing your
log burner and boiler – any positive changes can all make your home more appealing.

Don’t leave anything unfinished

We all have unfinished projects around our homes; often, because they are things we are used to
seeing, we actually don’t notice them any more. Rest assured that potential buyers with their sharp
eyes will notice every little detail. Therefore, go around your home with a fine-tooth comb; even
better, get a friend who is not as familiar with your home to do the same. Get any imperfections
fixed; that way buyers can not use any little unfinished projects as an excuse for not buying your
property or as a reason to negotiate the agreed sale price down before exchange of contracts.

Increase the selling power

Selling a home in Surrey could be more challenging in the months ahead as buyers and
sellers alike navigate the cost of living crisis and changing interest rates, which is why it is essential to
do what you can to increase the selling power of your property.

For more advice, call our team today on 01932 221331.