	home - contact - site map - links

Real Estate Selling Tips

Selling your home is an important decision, selecting the right agent can avoid the frustration and disappointment that so often happens. Your aim is to get the highest possible price in the shortest time and to be a satisfying and rewarding experience.

We hope this guide helps and saves you thousands of dollars in selling too cheaply or in needless expenses.

Selecting the right agent – do not list your home with several agents; you may think this will increase your chance of finding a buyer. It actually is the least successful way to sell and results in a lower sales price as agents are competing against each other to sell at any price. Buyers shop around and the property is psychologically devalued when offered by several agents as buyers suspect there could be something wrong with it. Choose one agent you like and trust and exclusively list for 60 days.
Common bad experiences – failed to communicate, lost money with no result, sold lower than quoted, worked for the buyer instead of the seller, sold too cheaply, charged too much.
What you want from your Agent – A person you can trust, who doesn’t put pressure and stress on you, who keeps you informed, gives 100% effort and sells your property for the best price in the shortest time.
Buyers want the lowest price – this is where the best agent will save you thousands of dollars if they are committed to you, their client. The person you select as your agent must be a skilled negotiator, research shows most buyers would have paid more if they had too.
Best way to sell – Auction or Private sale. Auctions are more popular in the major cities and they can be successful for the right property. The advantage of this method of sale is that you have no maximum price so with buyer competition you maybe able to get more for your property. If you are considering selling your property by the Auction Method, you should ask the agent for a list of their recent Auction Sales Results.
Selling Price – be careful not too choose an agent who tells you the biggest lie about the sale price of your property. This is called buying your business; also you may get agents trying to convince you of incredible prices achieved at auction. This is a common trick. If you suspect an agent is attempting to buy your business with a high price estimate, insist that they put the price range in writing and that if it does not sell within that range that they charge you nothing for selling.
The best price – the best way to get the best selling price is this; you start high, you instruct an agent who is a skilled negotiator and you lower the asking price until you receive the highest selling price. Simple and it works! If your property has not sold within the first 4 weeks, you must lower the asking price, otherwise your property could acquire the “lemon tag” and buyers will think there is something wrong with it. Almost like the stigma of a failed auction property.
A Cheap Agent – cheap agents get cheap prices. Be careful selecting an agent purely on fees. If agents give their own money away what do you think they will do with your money! A good negotiator is able to get you a better price and they will be worth a fair fee.
Trusting the Agent – if you don’t trust the agent, don’t hire the agent! A major ingredient in any successful relationship is trust. Before you choose your agent, ask many questions, check references, speak to previous sellers, demand a guarantee, test their negotiating skills. Ask yourself this question; do I feel comfortable with this person handling the sale of my home?
Why you are selling – your reason for selling is confidential, no one other than the agent you trust should know your reason for selling. If your reason for selling is revealed it can severely hurt your chance of getting the highest price. This is especially true if you need to sell by a certain date. If buyers know the reason you are selling it can weaken your negotiating position. If your agent is asked why you are selling, he should simply reply; that you are re-locating.
Guaranteed Service – avoid agents who do not offer a guarantee. Do not be locked in to a poor agent, the best agents will gladly guarantee their services. You wouldn’t buy a washing machine without a guarantee, don’t hire an agent without a guarantee!
Advertising Costs – Often owners believe the Agent should absorb these costs in their selling fees. Whilst this would be good for the sellers, the reality is that the Agent only gets paid for a successful result and few businesses can survive by paying to go to work. Advertising your property professionally should be considered as an investment in getting a better sales price. The more buyers that know about your property, the more likely you are to sell. A rule of thumb is; 1% of the expected purchase price should be invested in marketing costs. This would mean that a $300,000 property should have a budget of $3000 to maximize the exposure to the marketplace. A professional marketing plan should include window displays, in-house brochures, property guides, web site, local display advertising, editorials and signboard at reasonable cost.
Selling Fees – Queensland Real Estate Agents are the only ones in Australia that have a regulated maximum fee. This is 5% of the first $18000 plus 2.5% thereafter plus GST. Therefore a property that sells for $300,000 will have selling fees of $7950.00 plus 10% GST. This fee is deducted from the buyer’s deposit on completion of the sale.
For Sale Sign – no sign can mean no sale. A sign is your 24hour salesperson; buyers who specifically want your location will be attracted to your property if they know it is for sale. Be careful some people will knock on your door. Insist they call your agent. For Sale signs also attract other agents, those who are too lazy to find their own homes for sale and those who lack ethics. If other agents contact you, send them packing no matter how many times they tell you they have the perfect buyer for your home. These agents are the worst in the industry. If they will steal other agent’s clients they will almost certainly deceive you.
Presentation – sparkling homes get sparkling prices. Make your home sparkle and your price will shine, pay attention to the things that create a good first impression. Stand back and look at what buyers will see when they arrive. Cleanliness is vital and one of the most important is smell. Pleasant scents and sounds create pleasant moods.

TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOME FASTER AND FOR THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICE

We suggest you consider the following helpful hints whilst your home is on the market. Some of these points could assist you to achieve a quicker sale, give your home more sales appeal and help achieve a better price. We have contacts with the right people who will help you, so don’t hesitate to phone us. We are here to assist you and make your sale as easy as possible.

Exterior:

Other people’s mess always looks worse that your own. From the moment prospects arrive they are making an internal commentary on everything they see. Gardens and lawns should be well presented, rubbish should be disposed of, paths kept clean, toys and garden tools stored away
Check all windows and fly screens. Make sure they are in working order. Fix any cracks or holes. Replace broken or cracked panes. Clean barbeque and outside entertainment areas. Make them look attractive and as inviting as possible
This is a good time to get rid of any unwanted bits. Have a garage sale and make a bit of money, or make a donation to your favourite charity. Clean and tidy your garage and storage areas. If you have a workshop make it look clean and efficient—even if you aren’t a handyperson. Remove any oil stains from the garage floor and the driveway. Make sure the garbage and recycling bins are unobtrusive and tidy
Replace any cracked tiles on the roof. Check the guttering to make sure it is sound and not clogged with leaves. Replace rusted or sagging sections
Check all fencing. Replace any palings that have fallen down and repair holes which may have been made by pets or children
Check brickwork. Make sure that the pointing is sound. If your house is cement rendered make sure there are no cracks. Check your pool and its surrounds. Make sure there are no cracks and that it meets the legal requirements for safety fencing

Interior:

Let the sun shine in. Dark houses are rather gloomy, so pull back the drapes, open those blinds or turn on a few lights. A bright house could make it the right house
Check walls for blemishes in paintwork or wallpaper, for signs of damp and loose plaster
Make sure all doors operate quietly and smoothly and that all latches and locks work
Ceilings can make a room look small and shabby. Make sure cornices and ceilings are clean and not cracked, if necessary repaint them
Examine floor tiles and replace or repack any that have undue movement. Check floor coverings and get carpets clean, if necessary or replace badly worn or stained
Check the plumbing and replace any leaking tap washers. Make sure water in bath and sink drains away quickly
A warm, comfortable heated home on cold days adds a feeling of cosiness and welcome. On a hot day make sure your home is well ventilated
Smokers and dog owners beware; nothing makes a buyer want to get our of a property quicker than stale air. Room deodorizers, a bowl of pot pourri and open windows will all help
Keep your pets out of the way, preferably out of the house. Let the agent and buyer talk undisturbed
Storage space is a great bonus in any home. Try to give the impression that your home has lots of it. Neat, well organized cupboards will show the space is ample
Avoid having too many people present during inspections. Your property consultant knows the buyers requirements and can better emphasize the features of your home to prospective purchasers

Our office is dedicated to getting you the best price possible and providing the finest Real Estate Service in Noosa based on the highest standard of ethics, values and client care.

Thank you for considering Noosa Realty Service.