Time to sell

Recent figures from Rightmove have shown us that it has taken 63 days (on average) to find a buyer for a home this year. That’s 2 months in old money, but more to the point its 8 weekends of keeping the house tidy and kids (if you have them) out of the house!

A great question is, would you sign up for it if you were forewarned about the constant cleaning and tidying, viewings cancelling at short notice, limited feedback and mud on the carpet and knowing you might still be months from even dreaming of your next home (the good bit)?

Of course you would, but only on the condition that those 63 days guarantees you the best price, and makes all those cans of pledge worthwhile! In reality this is rarely the case.

The stats, (don’t shoot the messenger) are telling us that the market in the CR postcodes has reduced by an average of 2% in the last 12 months, so that would mean the longer you are on the market, the cheaper you are becoming…..and there is very little you can do about it.

You also have a very short honeymoon period where you are nice and shiny to the buyers that are looking, but that is over quicker than a politicians promise or a ULEZ camera, and if you don’t get any offers at this stage, you are probably going to have play catch up.

A reducing market and newer shinier toys means that you then have to go into chase mode, reducing your price just to stay in the conversation, changing to an agent that basically does the same as the one you have just been with, in the hope that they have a completely different pool of untapped buyer (which they don’t I’m afraid), or sitting tight and hoping for a miracle.

 So how do you avoid all this?

Spend more time on preparing your property, don’t let an agent convince you to come onto the market when the jobs you wanted to do are unfinished. Contact us for free tips and advice on how to get your property to the very best it can be.

Take time in looking for the agent that does things differently (not just the portals) but great social media exposure, class leading presentation and who gives you sensible advice, not just someone who wants you on their books. Personal agents like me spend time with you to build the foundation at the start so when you come to the market it won’t collapse.

We make sure the price is perfect, the details are beautiful and memorable and use the technology available to reach buyers who look for properties through these new channels.

‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ is one of the most apt sayings in this industry, it is literally worth thousands of pounds, immeasurable amounts of stress and can destroy life changing plans.

Your choice of agent should be as important as choosing your wedding planner, making sure that every detail is planned and perfect before your special day… and when it comes to the honeymoon period….leave that to us.