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9 THINGS THAT TURN BUYERS OFF

•  * CLINGY SELLERS 

It can be extremely difficult to let go of a property, especially if it’s somewhere you’ve made a home and stitched together memories. But once you’ve decided to sell you need to commit to that process.

Give your agent room to do their job, and potential buyers the space they need to get hooked. Sellers that linger during an open inspection, or start regaling inspectees with merry tales of every last crevice will turn most people off.

Even if your stories are actually quite charming, you need to remember that selling a property is a business transaction, and stay as dispassionate and objective as possible. Keep your distance and focus on the next property in your life!

“SELLING A PROPERTY IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION – STAY AS DISPASSIONATE AS POSSIBLE.”

•  * DIRT

Walking into a property that’s not well presented is often the death knell for a sale. Buyers will turn off if they’re inundated with dust, dirt or other muck.Make an effort, and hire a professional cleaner, home stager, or both if you need a hand.

Thoroughly clean the entire property, including all those areas you think no one notices. Living areas, backyards, bathrooms and toilets should get extra attention (you’d be surprised how many people use the bathroom at an inspection).

You can’t really overdo cleaning when it comes to selling – properties that just look neat and acceptable might not be enough, especially if you’re commanding top dollar.

Your home should shine as much as it possibly can.

•  * SMELLS

Ah, the good ol’ nose, always ruining things. Actually, we should be glad we’re so sensitive to smell, and that smells can have a big impact on our property buying process.

Setting up your place for sale can involved creating a set of inviting smells. But it should also involve getting rid of the unappealing ones.

Top of buyers turn off lists are pet smells. Even if we love our own animals, we don’t really want to smell other people’s, especially when it’s in an environment we’re trying to imagine kicking back and relaxing in.

Other smell turn off’s are cigarette smoke, mustiness, food and overpowering perfumes or incense (if you’re dressing your home for sale, less is more).

•  * CLUTTER

If your property is for sale, you usually need to do a little more than a quick spruce (unless you keep an amazing home all year round!). De-clutter strategically and systematically, starting with those areas that will interest most buyers when they inspect your home, and the areas they’ll do most of their living in. A cluttered living room is harder to explain away than a cluttered garage, for example.

Getting a professional organiser in to help you out can be a great idea, especially if you’re overwhelmed with all the other business involved in selling a home – not to mention living your life around it.

A pro can look at your clutter objectively and take quick, decisive action to remove the excess and store the rest out of sight.

•  * TEMPERATURE

Call it the Goldilocks effect.

If a property is too hot or too cold your buyers will bristle. Though it mightn’t be a deal breaker it does invite pointy questions – does the heating or cooling work as it should? With such high ceilings, it is expensive to heat?

Buyers get turned off it they can’t experience your home at its optimal comfort levels.

•  * NO PRICE

Fewer things will frustrate a buyer more than looking at an advertised property with no price. It’s a big complaint from our website users if agents haven’t included at least an indicative cost, and we understand.

Your listing is usually the first time your possible buyer will see your home. If the required detail isn’t there, it’ll have be something truly unique to get them to dig deeper, rather than just scrolling past to the next property that meets their criteria.

Budget is all important for a buyer. It’s not always possible to pin down a finite dollar figure, but if your property advertising doesn’t at least have a range listed, it’s a top turn off for buyers, who probably think they’re in for a nasty shock (even if the home is reasonably priced). Help them marry their budget to your property and be upfront.

•  * NO ADDRESS

Buyers want and deserve to know where their investment is located. Sometimes the suburb alone isn’t enough; surrounding streets and amenities can often make or break a sale.

Make sure your agent includes the full address you have available so it’s easy for buyers to do their homework on your property (the more work they put in, the more likely they’ll ultimately buy).

Not including information can be seen as a way to hide less than desirable details, whether or not it’s the case. And hiding doesn’t help anyone.

“DON’T PUT THEM OFF BEFORE THEY’RE EVEN IN YOUR DOOR.”

•  * NO PHOTOS

Would you buy a product sight unseen?

Photos are the single most powerful tool to inspire a potential buyer to inspect a home, or make an enquiry. People need to imagine their lives in your property, or get an authentic impression of how it will stand up as an investment.

Work with your agent to create a series of photos or video that shows your home in its best possible light. No visuals bodes poorly.

•  * YOUR AGENT

Just as your agent can make your sale, they might also break it if buyers are finding them hard to reach, or difficult to deal with.

Your agent is working for you, so make sure they’re treating buyers with respect and professionalism. Most agents are great at this and you should be able to ferret out their personality when you meet, greet and decide to appoint them.

Avoid these traps and you won’t sabotage your sale before you even start. It always helps to put yourself in the shoes of the buyer.

Would you buy a home with insufficient information listed, or one that looked messy, chaotic or smelt funky when you went for an inspection?

Source: www.realestate.com.au

SMELLS THAT SELL PROPERTY

If you’re selling your home, you’ll have a bunch of people (wisely) advising you to make sure it smells nice for inspections and viewings to help your chances of landing the sale.

The best smell when selling is clean, fresh air. In other words no overt smell. I always advise against the following:

1. Artificial smells such as sprays or plug ins as they smell as though they are masking something (they probably are)
2. Scented candles, incense or pot pourri. Scent is such a personal thing. You might think the incense sticks you bought back from Bali or the expensive candle you received for Christmas are helping the sale of your property but others might not share your taste or worse might have an allergic reaction to it.
3. Baking or brewing coffee.  Staging has moved on. Most people have heard the trick of cookie dough or coffee but I think it’s trying too hard. Most buyers are wise to these tricks and might see it as just that – a trick.

Do you agree? What smells do you think ‘sell’ the best?

SOURCE: www.realestate.com.au

HOW TO GET YOUR PROPERTY READY FOR SALE

There are many decisions to make along your selling journey including your goal sale price, whether to head to auction or sell by private treaty, and how to present your home to buyers.

When placing a property for sale on the market it is important to get your promotional strategy and market position right!

DETERMINE YOUR SALE PRICE

Do your research. Look into recent sales of similar properties in your area, attend local auctions and take into account the general state of the economy and what interest rates are doing.

During your real estate agent search ask their opinion on a realistic sale price for your property. There is also the option of paying a registered valuer for a formal valuation. Characteristics such as the style and age of your home, size, level of up-keep and general availability of real estate in your area, will all impact buyer demand.

Finally, you must consider your personal circumstances. The sale price needs to pay off your existing mortgage, cover all selling fees and, ideally, gain a return on your investment.

PROPERTY PRESENTATION: RENOVATION, REPAIRS AND STYLING

During your home’s assessment by an agent or valuer, particular repairs or renovations may be recommended. Be careful not to over capitalise. There is little point in upgrading your property if the equity you gain is less than or equal to the money you spend.

The extent to which you should improve your property for sale will depend on your access to finance, the time frame in which you hope to sell, and your agent or valuer’s advice.

One option is to hire a property stylist. They are trained professionals who possess knowledge of current interior design trends and experience in styling homes to attract buyers. If you choose to style your property yourself you should:

• - make sure your home is clean
• - remove unnecessary items that create mess
• - remove personal items of value but retain effects that add homely character
• - add some cost-efficient styling devices such as mirrors and new cushions, and make small repairs like touching up worn paint work
• - make your home welcoming with fresh flowers and gentle lighting and, if possible, maintain an even temperature with air-conditioning or heating
• - don’t forget to tidy your garden, front lawn or courtyard as potential buyers will make a judgement on your property before they even open the front door
• - consider the type of buyer you are trying to attract and adjust your styling accordingly.

The way you present your property for salewill flow through from your advertising material, online and in print, to the day of inspection.

SOURCE: www.domain.com.au