Once you have identified a market value for your home, you may want to consider pricing it slightly lower than those sold through agents, so that prospective buyers feel that they are getting a bargain.
Preparing the property for sale
Any estate agent worth their salt will help the seller to prepare their property for sale and point out places where improvements need to be made Cheap Carl Soderberg Shirt , helping the home to sell quicker and for more money.
Generally, vendors should be prepared to neutralise and de-personalise their homes prior to sale. This means clearing away clutter, plenty of white paint, a good spring clean and fixing all those little DIY jobs that never seem to get done.
Marketing your property
In the past, people who have opted to sell their homes without estate agents have used home-made 'For Sale' signs and local classified adverts. These can still be very effective and are definitely worth considering.
In addition to this, a number of websites have sprung up Cheap Blake Comeau Shirt , specifically for private sellers to advertise their homes. A quick search on Google or Yahoo will help you find the most appropriate site for your needs.
Negotiating the deal
One of the core advantages of using an estate agent to sell your home is their ability to negotiate the best deal without any financial or emotional involvement.
Many people find negotiation an unpleasant experience and prefer to leave it to the experts. If you do decide to negotiate with the buyer, remember these core tips:
Set a minimum price at which you are prepared to sell your home.
Allow yourself room for manoeuvre - most people will try to negotiate, so make sure your asking price is higher than your minimum selling price.
If the buyer is making a serious offer, try to meet them at a half-way point, slow the pace down and only surrender small chunks of money at a time - by making the buyer work harder for a discount they will feel they have got a better deal.
Separate the real buyers from the time wasters, make sure they actually have the money to buy your property and are prepared to make a purchase - there is little point in negotiating with a general browser.
Ask lots of questions -- 'When would you like to move in?' Cheap Alexander Kerfoot Shirt , 'Do you have finance arranged?', 'Have you sold your current house yet?' -- This will help separate buyers from browsers and you could even identify information about your buyer that will give you a negotiating edge
Close the deal
Once you have agreed on a price with the buyer, you need to ensure the deal does not fall apart. Agree on deadlines for the survey, conveyancing and date of the final exchange.