Trends in Property – What’s APP-ropriate

March 21, 2012 Leave a comment

Click here to download the First National Real Estate App

First National Real Estate cautions buyers and sellers to make sure they know the most app-ropriate new technologies that best suits their needs. 

Consumers crave information because it gives them power, control and improved certainty over their purchase decisions, and new technologies will make this even easier, especially the advent of Point-Know-Buy (PKB) technology. 

PKB will reshape consumers’ information expectations, search behaviour and purchasing patterns, which is why it is crucial consumers understand how it works whether they are interested in buying or selling property. 

PKB enables consumers to access information about objects they encounter in the real world while on the go, simply by pointing their smartphone or similar device at anything they are interested in. 

It effectively links images to any available information about that picture, which means a buyer can be out and about, perhaps at a display home or open house, point at a prospective piece of real estate and access any available information about it just by pointing their phone. 

First National Real Estate already uses mobile technology to its fullest advantage through various Apps which give consumers greater control. 

One of its Apps will instantly add a customer’s wish list to a database which will highlight properties that are suitable matches.  Another demonstrates to home sellers the impact on the number of potential buyers if a selling price is too high. Its mobile Apps allow agents to demonstrate, using a sliding scale, how many buyers are waiting on a database for their home, based on their asking price. 

Mobile Apps also allow First National to offer superior property management services for both landlords and tenants through an application that adds a tenant to a database at inspections and another one that enables First National to provide a much more thorough and efficient condition reporting tool for landlords.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Should you invest in Australian property?

March 19, 2012 1 Comment

The decision to rent or buy is always a big one. The traditional strategy of buying a first house and then moving up to the ideal home as your income and equity grows is fast being replaced by the initial purchase of an investment property. However, the alternative of renting indefinitely while you save to buy is becoming equally difficult because of escalating rents and an historic squeeze on vacancies.

If you’ve wondered whether you’re ahead by renting or better off buying, consider these statistics.

  • The median net wealth of a renting household is $55,265 whereas homeowners have nine times as much – $487,183
  • Renters comprise 28.7 per cent of the nation’s households but have only 6.3 per cent of the nation’s wealth
  • Australians who own their home are worth 13 times more than renters – $734,394

So, despite arguments to the contrary that emerge from time to time, real estate ownership has made the average Australian second only to Swiss residents as the wealthiest in the world.

So how do you take the step from renting to buying your first home?

  1. Approach the market with a sound five-year plan. Get into the market, pay down the mortgage, and establish equity in the home as a basis for long-term financial security and flexibility.
  2. Budget for extras. As well as a solid deposit, have money set aside to cover insurance, routine maintenance costs and to meet mortgage payments for several months if something goes wrong.
  3. Don’t worry about the market. Your focus should be on building a deposit while looking for the property that matches your lifestyle and budget.
  4. Compromise. Your perfect home is likely to be out of reach for now, so focus on hunting down a property that has solid real estate attributes – good location, off-street parking, security, quality finishes and proximity to restaurants and transport. Choose something that will suit your needs for the next five years or so while you build up equity and prepare for the next phase of home ownership.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is it worth making your property more energy efficient?

March 12, 2012 1 Comment

Do you want to make your home more environmentally friendly but are not sure where to start, or whether it’s even worthwhile?

Green credentials are now a stronger selling point for a property than ever before and there’s little doubt buyers are motivated by green investments you may have made in your home. Even just small eco-improvements around your home will benefit the environment and increase your home’s value.

Making such changes is one of the easiest ways you can boost your asking price or make your property more appealing. As well as reducing your impact on the environment, you’ll save money on utility bills.

Although you may feel overwhelmed by the deluge of information about climate change, energy issues and savings, to the point that you don’t quite know where to start, there are many ways to make positive changes for a minimal cost in terms of dollars and time.

First National Real Estate Burnie’s 10 tips for creating a greener household include:

  1. Install a triple A-rated showerhead and a dual flush toilet to cut your water usage. If you rent your home, consider adding a 1.25 litre PET bottle filled with water to your toilet cistern to reduce the tank’s capacity.
  2. Replace standard globes with energy efficient (compact fluorescent) light bulbs.
  3. Install a water tank to use rainwater on the garden. In some homes, this can halve water usage and deliver a greener, more attractive garden during summer.
  4. Have your home’s insulation checked – walls and ceilings may need a top-up. Good insulation can save up to 55 per cent of heating and cooling costs.
  5. Repair the trim around windows and doors to prevent drafts and heat loss.
  6. When replacing old or cracked windows use double-glazed glass. It provides better insulation for heat and noise, while acting as a deterrent to burglars due to its strength.
  7. Use solar powered outdoor lights to illuminate your pathways and garden at night.
  8. Install ceiling fans. They’re far more energy efficient than air conditioners but will provide a cooling air-flow on hot summer days.
  9. Think long-term and plant deciduous trees in areas that let the sun in during winter and provide shade in summer.
  10. Start a compost heap to minimise waste sent to landfill, and provide your garden with a great source of nutrients.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , ,

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Home Buyers

January 15, 2012 Leave a comment

If you find the prospect of buying your first property a little intimidating, don’t worry. Doing some basic research is easier than most people think. It increases your confidence and reduces the chance of making a mistake.

Buying a home is about the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever have to make. However, it’s also going to be an exciting turning point – one that will almost certainly make the most impact on your lifestyle. For many it will be something never done before. Selecting the right home in the right area, organising finance and negotiating the sale – it all sounds a little daunting. Yet it isn’t as complicated as you may think! Turning the home of your dreams into a reality is easier if you’re prepared.

Why seven habits of effective home buyers? Because over the years we’ve seen some traits (habits) the our successful buyers share. What is a “successful buyer”? Let’s just define it as someone who finds the home they want, and gets through the often home buying process without killing themselves, a loved one, the seller, or their real estate agent.

Effective Habit #1: Get pre-approved for a loan

Don’t miss out on a ‘hot’ property, do everything you can to be able to push the ‘GO’ button. It is wise to seek “approval in principle” from your Lender, meaning the Lender has given you approval to borrow up to a certain figure.  This step will save you the grief of looking at homes you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right one.

Buying a home is not a task undertaken everyday. It’s important to understand the process of real estate, what you can comfortably afford and the type of loan product best suited to

Choosing the right home loan from the many products available can be daunting. It’s important to understand all the alternatives before making your choice.

It is crucial to work with a good lender throughout the home buying process. Talking to several brokers as well as a finance adviser will definitely help you sort the wheat from the chaff. There are two options available to you when organising finance. You can apply directly to a finance institution or you can use a mortgage broker to help you through the process.

A lending institution will apply a “Qualifying Ratio” which is the percentage of a home buyer’s gross income that can be prudently allocated for debt, based on personal income.

As a general guide, lenders limit the total sum of monthly mortgage principal, interest, tax and insurance payments to 28 per cent of the borrower’s gross monthly income. Furthermore, they may limit the total of all long-term debt payments to 36 per cent of the borrower’s gross monthly income.

Effective Habit #2: Define your must haves, like to haves, and cannot haves

Shopping for a property should be an exciting adventure. If you have a clear picture of what you want and how much you can afford, it can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Face it — when working within a budget, sometimes you have to make some compromises. Knowing what you really need can help narrow your home options and also make decisions easier when it comes to making an offer.

The first step is to decide what kind of home will suit your tastes, your lifestyle and your budget. Start an all-family member housing priority discussion before beginning to look at your options. Determine what you MUST have in a home. Then determine what you would LIKE to have in a home. Talk to your agent about these things. Don’t forget to include what you CAN’T have in a home — that will often be more important than anything else.

Aside from basics such as the suburb, number of bedrooms and price range, there are other important things to consider, depending on your circumstances. Take your time and consider things like proximity to schools, transport and amenities, and the condition of the property. Does it need major repairs?

Don’t know exactly what you must/like/can’t have in a home? That’s OK, it happens ALL the time. Your agent can help you by showing you different homes in your price range with different features to help you get a better understanding of what you’d like in a home.

But at some point you are going to have to make decisions and not wander aimlessly through every home that may possibly fit some undefined set of criteria. That would be a waste of your time, the time of your agent, the home sellers, and everyone else that is involved in a real estate transaction.

Effective Habit #3: Be realistic

Naturally everyone wants to get the most home they can for the least amount of money. Which is, of course, in opposition to the home seller, who wants the most money for their home.

Think about what your expectations are, and work with your agent to see if they are realistic. There’s no point looking for a mansion if you can only afford a cottage. You’re not going to get everything a $300K+ home has to offer for say $160K – it just doesn’t work that way. Once you’ve set your price range, identify the suburbs that have properties in that range – it will save you a lot of legwork. Work closely with your agent, ask them for recent sale prices of similar properties in the area, build that trust and get out there and find that perfect home!

Being realistic also applies to things besides the home itself. Buying a home in a low price bracket and expecting no repairs or maintenance? Good luck with that. Buying a home and thinking if the building inspector finds anything wrong with it (other than major structural problems), I’m not buying the house? Well you might as well stop right now because I can assure your there aren’t any homes where the building inspector finds nothing to report.

Don’t wait for the perfect market conditions – they will never appear and you’ll miss out on significant capital growth. Just be realistic. It will greatly reduce your stress levels.

Effective Habit #4: Be flexible

As a home buyer, it is important to be flexible. Unless you are having a home built to your exact specifications, it’s very unlikely that you will find the absolutely perfect home for you. Maybe you find a home that has everything except the perfect kind of flooring, colours, kitchen, whatever. If you have some flexibility built into your must haves and likes, you will find the entire process much less painful.

Don’t be tempted to make a very low offer in an attempt to grab a bargain as others may also be making offers and you could miss out. If you really want the property make sure your offer is realistic. The more attractive you can make your offer in terms of price and conditions, the more likely your offer will be accepted.

Effective Habit #5: Understand the home buying process

You don’t need to understand every step of the home buying process — that is your agent’s job. But the more you do understand, the less stressful and mystifying the process will be. Buying a home is a stressful event. Anything you can do to reduce that stress will go a long way not just toward saving your sanity but in helping ensure the transaction moves to settlement.

So, you have found a place you’d love to call home? Once you’ve considered other comparable nearby properties, take a deep breath and make an offer – IN WRITING!

There are two ways to do this:

Unconditional offer:

An unconditional offer is when you offer an amount to buy the house as listed (with or without drapes, fixtures, etc.) without adding or negotiating any other conditions.

Conditional offer:

A conditional offer is when you offer to buy the property only if certain conditions are accepted by the vendor. These must be listed on the Contract of Sale. For example, your offer may be conditional on arranging finance. If finance cannot be arranged within a certain period of time, the offer becomes void. For your own protection, you should nominate a specific lender as your source of finance. Leaving out a nominated lender or having open-ended finance conditions on your Contract of Sale may force you to take up finance at substantially higher rates, perhaps shorter terms, and from a lender you would not prefer to deal with. Another condition might be an extension of the settlement period. If the seller does not accept the conditions, further negotiation may take place or the offer may simply be declined.

Also be aware that if making an offer, never assume that your agent or the property owner will come back and forth to you – and you should take the approach that your first offer may be the only opportunity you get to obtain the property. A willing seller may not wish to wait around and may accept a reasonable offer from another buyer.

Do not be afraid to ask your agent questions. Lots of questions. Be advised that everyone in the process tends to toss about terms and jargon that only those dealing with real estate on a daily basis understand. Sometimes we forget we’re speaking in a different language. Don’t be shy. If there’s a term you don’t understand, ask.

Effective Habit #6: Be responsible

When you are looking at potential homes, be responsible and respectful that you are in someone else’s home. It’s OK to look in their cupboards, to flick light switches, to turn on the stove. But be responsible and leave the home in exactly the same condition you found it in.

Much of this habit really boils down to two things: 1) use common sense; and 2) treat others how you expect to be treated.

As a home buyer, you are going to have to work with a lot of different people in order to make sure your transaction progresses and ultimately settle.  Once an offer has been negotiated you’ll pay the deposit to the real estate agent who places it in a trust account. This is also the time when you should

  • Organise your solicitor/conveyancer
  • Arrange the balance of the purchase price—that is finalise the finance and sign the mortgage documents.
  • Organise any inspections
  • Insure the property

Effective Habit #7: Have fun!

We already mentioned that buying a home is a big step – both financially and emotionally. Take a look around at lists of “life’s most stressful events” and you’ll see things like taking on new debt, financial change, moving — that’s buying a house. You are about to enter into one of the single largest financial transactions of your life. Stress is a given.

But buying a home is also an exciting time! There isn’t a law that requires you to mope around, dreading every moment. There’s nothing wrong with having fun during the process. Hopefully you are working with an agent that you enjoy working with. That doesn’t mean you all need to participate in group hugs or go camping together. But it’s OK to laugh, to enjoy yourself, to have a little fun in the process.

The Bottom Line

Buying a home doesn’t have to be torture. If you understand the process, work with the right people and try to have a little fun along the way there is no question that you can find a great home and get to move into your new home. Think about the habits shown here, do a little online research, have open dialogs with your agent and lender and you too can make it through a home purchase.

Preparation is the key. Understand your rights and have everything in place. And no, applying seven habits, or even one hundred habits is going to ensure you have a successful home buying experience. Nothing can guarantee that. But you can certainly increase the likelihood of a less stressful and successful transaction by applying some of the habits listed here along with advice from your solicitor/conveyance and your agent.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Home Sellers

January 8, 2012 Leave a comment

Your property will possibly be the most valuable asset you will ever sell so it’s important to heed professional advice in order to maximise its sale price.

Selling your property is not a task undertaken everyday. When you’re selling, it’s important to be fully informed and plan each step carefully.

There is something to be learned from how home sellers have approached the often complex task of putting their home on the market, and more importantly, closing the deal.

Effective Habit #1: Be Realistic

Property is one of those rate things with no recommended retail price. What your neighbour sold their home for last year, or even last month, doesn’t matter. What you “lost” because you didn’t sell your home at the peak of the market doesn’t matter. The enemy is any other property for sale within your area and price range.

Selling a home ranks WAY up the list of “life’s most stressful moments”. But you have to understand and be realistic about your home’s value, your neighbourhood, and the real estate market you’re in. There are many factors that impact the potential sale of your home. You do not have control over current market dynamics (economy, interest rates, outlook, consumer sentiment, employment, wages) or local supply versus demand. But there are things you can control (presentation, cleanliness, street appeal, availability). Address what you can control, and understand the impact of what you can’t. Realistically.

Effective Habit #2: Be Open to Suggestions

You’ve selected a real estate agent to help you, trust their advice. After all, you wouldn’t visit a doctor and then tell them how you should be treated. Your real estate agent will be able to add real value to the process and is an essential component in selling for more. Sure, you may not be able to do everything they suggest, but at least listen and consider suggestions your agent may have for the best way to present, market and sell your home.

Effective Habit #3: Be Available

YOU don’t necessarily have to be available to buyers interested in your home, but you do need to be flexible with inspection times. In fact, you should avoid staying inside the house while a buyer inspections. Buyer’s sometimes feel they cannot openly discuss concerns with your agent in your presence. Golden opportunities may there be lost. Should it be necessary for you to remain at home, be courteous but don’t force conversation with a potential buyer. The buyer wants to inspect your home – not pay a social call. However, should you be asked questions about the home, the neighbours or the area answer them.

At times you need to be able to vacate the premises with reasonable notice – and occasionally with unreasonable notice. Your home can not be sold if potential buyers can’t view it. “No inspections on weekends” or “Inspections only between 11:00am and 1:00pm on Thursdays and Fridays” won’t cut it.

Effective Habit #4: Be Smart

Understand the local real estate market. Understand the home selling process. Understand the buyers’ cycle (you may not be buying, but you want to understand what your potential buyers are dealing with).

Why understand all this? KNOWELDGE IS POWER!

How do you understand all this? Let your agent help you understand it. That’s what you’re paying them for.

Effective Habit #5: Invest in a Marketing Campaign

Choosing a marketing plan that ensures your home is exposed to the maximum number of buyers is critical to achieving the best price.

YOU CAN’T SELL A SECRET! This is a well-known saying in the real estate industry. In other words, a property may be immaculate, fresh and supremely interesting but if you don’t tell ‘the world’ you will struggle to sell for more.

Let’s now look at an effective marketing campaign.

  1. It attracts buyers with increased chance of attracting offers, resulting in a great sale!
  2. It encourages competition between buyers resulting in top prices being paid!
  3. It is an insurance policy against underselling. Every suitable buyer in the market will see the advertising and will make the decision whether or not to inspect further. Those buyers who do view and want to the property will vie for the chance to buy!

Think about it…would you like the first buyer or the best buyer.

Effective Habit #6: Balance Emotion with Logic

Selling your home and all the things involved with the transaction can be very exciting, but many times it is an extremely stressful event.

Home sellers not only have to worry about their home remaining clean and available to buyers on a daily basis but they often have other important things that they could be doing to ready themselves for their move. It is also true that most Sellers have a tremendous amount of pride in their home and want to make certain that the marketing and eventual sale price are reflective of that pride.

The moment you list your home for sale, it just becomes a house on a shelf – 1 of many. You may not like what the market tells you but it will never lie to you. If you don’t have inspections you will very likely not receive any offers. If you have inspections and still don’t get any offers you must be prepared to adjust the price. Don’t take it personally.

The best homes remain unsold due to price!

Effective Habit #7: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

This is YOUR home you are trying to sell. You need to be comfortable with what is going on. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask your Real Estate Agent for clarification. Don’t be embarrassed about things you don’t know. You don’t sell a home every day. Most real estate terms and jargon aren’t important to you 99.9% of the time. But they are important now, and often agents tend to forget we frequently speak in a foreign language. There are no stupid questions. Ask.

The Bottom Line

These “seven habits” can help you through the home selling process. There is every chance your efforts will be rewarded with more buyers and the potential for buyers competing for your home, a faster sale and a better price. You will also be able to take comfort in the knowledge that you did your absolute best to influence the value of your home and your stress levels may be greatly reduced.  It may also greatly reduce the stress levels of your real estate agent as well. That’s not a bad thing. People don’t like stress so anything that can be done to alleviate a stressful situation is a good thing.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Safe Decisions Can Make the Most of Your Holiday

December 16, 2011 Leave a comment

Stay safe this holiday season

People heading off on holidays should make sure homes are left safe and secure and to think carefully, if considering a holiday home purchase.

Holidays are great times for criminals to get to work if they believe a home is empty and it’s also a time when vacationers ponder their existence as they sit back and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle on offer in popular holiday spots.

But careful planning and forward thinking is required during the holidays to ensure they make the right decisions.

Anyone considering heading off for a well-deserved rest should start now to put some simple, cost effective measures in place for while they are away such as turning on security lights or alarm systems, asking the assistance of a trusted friend, neighbour or family member to collect the mail each day, putting out bins at collection times, parking a car in the driveway or adjusting curtains and blinds for that lived in look that deters unfriendly and unwelcome visitors.

A common trend for people on vacation is to fall in love with the holiday spot and look at purchasing in the area to either move into, or retire to, at some later stage in their lives.

But, purchasing a holiday home should only be done after careful planning and consideration of all the factors, beyond the pleasant experience.

Financial considerations need to be taken into account as they have potential long-term impacts and tax implications such as attracting capital gains tax on the difference between the purchase price and the later sale price, should the decision to sell ever arise.

Holiday home owners need to expand their purchase cost base by adding the expenses involved with holding the property, including council rates and water bills, major extensions or repairs, strata levies, garden maintenance and interest on mortgage repayments to reduce the taxable component of the sale, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

A holiday home can also double as an investment property, given it is vacant for most of the year, so it is important to ensure it is close to transport or employment opportunities, especially if it is in regional areas, otherwise it will be less desirable as an accommodation option for renters.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

How do you avoid the wild goose chase with utility connections?

November 22, 2011 Leave a comment

Give the birds the flick next time you move…

Did you know that the average time it takes to disconnect the average home’s utilities and reconnect them at your new address is nearly six hours?

Who has that sort of spare time when they’re in the middle of moving?

It would be great if it were only the water, electricity and gas you had to contend with. However, these days there’s usually also the phone, pay TV and Internet that all need to be disconnected and then re-connected. That means dealing with tedious call centres, waiting in time-consuming queues, and usually having to put up with providers trying to upsell you to different products from the one’s you’re using.

First National agents recognise that you need help and we have the ideal solution. One phone call to Direct Connect will see all your utilities transferred to your new address expertly and efficiently.

Direct Connect will even let you know if there’s a better deal for you if you want them to. They keep you informed and you can spend your valuable time looking after the unpacking, the kids and getting set up.

Just ask your First National Burnie property manager for the details.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , ,

What’s the best way to combat mould in your home?

November 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Unsightly, unhealthy and unwelcome...
Unsightly, unhealthy and unwelcome…

Mould spores are always present in the air around us which is why it is so important to keep your home properly ventilated.

As simple plants belonging to the fungi group, these tiny aviators need moisture in the air and are always on the lookout for a nice enclosed area in your home where ventilation is poor. That’s why cupboards and wardrobes often present the ideal moisture and temperature combination for mould and mildew to thrive.

To combat mould, you need to reduce moisture levels, consider insulation and increase ventilation.

Ideally, start by opening the windows to create cross ventilation regularly. This is the most energy efficient and inexpensive approach. Too cold? Alright, but open the windows just a little. Remember, the important thing is to keep air moving.

Next, check what’s going on with insulation. Insulation prevents heat loss from walls and ceilings, thereby keeping a room warmer. When the walls and ceiling are warmer, moisture is less likely to condense on these surfaces, so your home is kept dryer.

Alternatively, another common method is to use an electric dehumidifyer. Most hardware and department stores can recommend the appropriately sized unit for your affected room.

Other areas that mould and mildew really enjoy are closets and the clothes they contain. As moulds grow they cause considerable damage. Mildew secretes an enzyme that decomposes organic matter and uses it for growth and reproduction. It often leaves a musty odour in clothes and causes unsightly black stains and rot.

One well-tested and successful method is to place a small low wattage electric light globe, say between 40 and 60 watts. The dry heat prevents mildew and mould growth although this can be expensive.

Many people prefer to buy chemical dehumidifyers such as ‘Damp Rid’ and ‘Closet Camel’ at the supermarket or hardware store. These small plastic buckets contain refillable mineral salts that absorb moisture, collecting it below in a small reservoir that you need to empty periodically.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Step Up The Property Ladder Sooner

July 14, 2011 1 Comment

First National Real Estate says first home buyers could be staking out their own patch of turf sooner than they imagined, despite spiraling weekly rents, rising living costs and home prices that have begun gently rising again in parts of the country. 

The first step is to get together a deposit. This can be made easier by starting with simple things like cutting back on luxury habits, cooking more meals at home and taking lunch to work rather than eating out.  Doing that five days a week, will really get the piggy bank started.

Cutting back on other socialising activities so that a night out is enjoyed once a fortnight, instead of weekly or more frequently can also save money. 

With both established homes and greenfield properties in new suburbs on the city fringes becoming out of reach, first home buyers need to start being a bit more strategic in their thinking and look at things in a different light.  They should consider staying at home longer where much lower rents could be paid and parents might even consider saving the rent to help them get their deposit together.

But, the best thing to do is to seek the services of a financial planner and adviser as they have the expertise and knowledge to assist with your financial needs in the way that best suits the income and lifestyle of the individual.

First home buyers are an important segment of the Australian property market and it is incumbent upon governments and the industry to ensure there are affordable housing options for all sectors.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Warm Up Winter Buyers

June 28, 2011 Leave a comment

Selling your home is nerve-racking at best but there are some things a seller can do to maximise the value of their property, even when the weather is cold and things look a bit dull and gray.

The most important tip is to appoint a well-respected, reputable and trustworthy real estate agent because they have a duty to achieve the best price for their clients, keep their finger on the pulse of the market and  keep their clients educated and informed on current market trends.  

Agents are encouraged to think creatively and strategically to shorten the number of days properties are on the market and maximize the price of the property, including updating photography, being positive and upbeat, using all the marketing tools such as social media and networks, and making sure the seller sets the right price. 

Here are a few things sellers can easily undertake and afford to present their properties in the best possible light: 

  • Paint a few feature walls to create visual impact.  Consider using the services of an interior decorator for a quick consultation and some ideas.
  • Add a few personal touches like family photos and memorabilia around the place to give that ‘homey’ feel
  • Keep lights on during inspections to add an interesting touch and make sure curtains, shutters and blinds are open – letting in as much natural light as possible as well as make rooms feel much more spacious.
  • Make sure everything is clean including windows, both inside and out and light fittings.
  • Place some flowers in vases to liven things up a bit, and even consider spraying some perfume around (but not too much!)
  • Turn on heaters so that the temperature inside the home is comfortable, inviting the buyer to linger longer, especially on cold days. 

Another key tip is that sellers should always try to keep in mind who they are selling to, just like any other product that is for sale. 

At the end of the day, sellers should put themselves in the place of the buyer, think about what would they look for and make sure their home delivers as best as it can. That’s what First National Real Estate does – they think of their clients and put them first, because that’s what they would like if they were clients.

Filed under Real Estate Tips Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older posts

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.