Selling Your First Property? Here Are 8 Tips to Stand Out
If you’ve decided to sell your first property and are unsure where on earth to start, you’re in the right place! It’s a competitive market, and you’ll need to take steps to really stand out from others selling their homes. But with a clear plan of action in place, you can make your property listing stand out from the rest. If you’re keen to sell quickly, we recommend working with a video production company to make your property really shine. Without further ado, let’s explore our top tips for standing out in a crowded real estate market.
Prioritise Property Presentation
Before the cameras come out, you need to make your property look the part. This means decluttering and cleaning to make the interior and exterior of your home as appealing as possible. Dispose of or sell furniture you no longer need and put as many personal belongings as possible away to make the space look bigger. Clean absolutely everywhere, inside and out, to make the place spotless before the cameras arrive because nothing will put buyers off quicker than a messy and dirty house!
Invest in Staging, Photography and Videography
A great way to make your property more attractive to buyers is to focus on staging, which involves strategically placing furniture and decor in a way that enhances its appeal, effectively highlighting strengths and downplaying weaknesses. Once your property has been well and truly staged, it’s time to invest in high-quality photography and videography.
An effective property video is powerful. One survey revealed that 58 per cent of buyers don’t view property videos as a nice-to-have—they expect to see them in property listings. Not convinced? This next statistic might change that. Property listings with embedded videos are 53 times more likely to rank highly on Google.
But it’s important to get property videos right, and that’s where hiring experts come in handy. An experienced video production company will work with you at every stage of the process, ensuring your property is captured in the best possible light to stimulate buyer interest.
Consider Your Pricing Strategies
Now comes the difficult bit: setting the price of your property. There are several strategies to choose from, including market value pricing, above market pricing, below market pricing or, if you know the wants and needs of particular buyer segments, value-based pricing. The best advice for pricing strategies is to do your research to understand market value in your area, be realistic about what you can ask for and be prepared to negotiate on price.
Experiment With Different Marketing Techniques
Once your property is in a state to sell, it’s time to start marketing it! There are numerous ways you can go about this. The most common way to market a property is to list it on a website such as Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket. You can also post your property listing on social media, including videos, photos and descriptions to grab people’s attention.
Alternatively, if you’re not keen on the idea of marketing the property yourself, working with a real estate agent removes the need for you to focus on marketing, as the agent will do it for you.
Work With Real Estate Professionals
This leads us to our next point: the benefits of working with a real estate agent. If you want to sell your property quickly and for a reasonable price, working with a real estate agent gives you access to a wealth of experience and expertise. When it comes to selecting a real estate provider to work with, look for companies with plenty of experience, a good reputation, affordable fees and a clear and responsive communication style.
Decide on Your Negotiation Strategy
The negotiation process isn’t particularly comfortable, especially if you’ve chosen to sell your house without expert assistance. Some choose to take a ‘hardball’ approach, where they set a clear bottom line and refuse to budge from the price offered. Others opt for a softer approach, where they are willing to compromise on price if necessary.
Usually, buyers and sellers will do their best to find a solution that benefits both parties. When going into the negotiation process, it’s best to do your research to understand the value of your property, be patient because it could take some time to agree, and be prepared to walk away if the potential buyer can’t offer a price you’re comfortable with.
Meet Legal and Administrative Requirements
Selling a property involves a lot of paperwork, and it’s not everyone’s favourite task! You’ll need to make sure you’ve got all the relevant documentation to hand, including proof of identity, Land Registry title documents, EPC, leasehold documents (if applicable), new build warranties for properties under 10 years old, gas safety certificates, electrical checks, window certificates, planning permission certificates and more. The legal and administrative aspect of selling a house is intimidating, so it’s no surprise many people turn to real estate agents for help.
Research Timing and Market Trends
The timing of a property sale can have a big impact on the price the seller pays. Before you decide to list your property, consider the current market conditions. Is it better to wait until the market is hotter, or are there already plenty of buyers out there? To gauge current market trends, read property news and market reports by firms such as Zoopla, Savills and Nationwide. However, if you’re selling for personal reasons, such as a job relocation, you may have to sell regardless of the state of the property market.
Final Thoughts: Tips For Selling Your First Property
Selling your very first property is daunting, as there is a lot to consider before you’ve even published your listing. But with the right action plan in place and a positive mindset, you can sell your property relatively swiftly and for a good price. Just remember that preparation is key (don’t forget the power of a good property video produced by an expert video production company), and make sure to be realistic when it comes to price negotiations. Finally, don’t hesitate in getting professional help if you feel out of your depth.
