“This year - Don’t wait till Spring!”

As the Christmas holiday season is upon us, many people will start to think about the prospect of moving house early next year. However, as the evenings will still be dark, and the garden remains rather sad, there is usually the feeling that it would probably be best to wait until the spring before putting your property on the market. After all, spring is traditionally associated with a time of change and this has always had a bearing on the property market.

However, we would urge some caution on this. Firstly, serious buyers do not give up over the Christmas and New Year period, and can even become frustrated by lack of choice as properties are withdrawn from the market in the mistaken belief that nobody will be looking at this time of year. You can take advantage of this temporary imbalance of supply and demand by being one of the properties that is actually new on the market! Whilst viewing activity may be slightly less frenetic, you can be assured that every viewing will count, as you will only be dealing with serious buyers.

Many sellers will inevitably wait until the spring before putting their property on the market – which could flood the market and potentially thwart prices. However, last year’s backlog of frustrated buyers are already looking today.

So if you are contemplating a sale this year, we suggest you take advantage of the situation, be strategic, and position your property for an early sale at a time when demand is likely to outstrip supply.

“Showing Buyers Around” (Part Two)

Some people feel that houses should be able to “sell themselves” and do not need to be “shown” by estate agents. Whilst this may be true of certain exceptional homes, or where achieving the optimum price is not an issue, most properties require the skills of a well-trained estate agent if they are to sell for the best price within a reasonable period timescale.

One benefit of your estate agent showing your home is honest feedback. Many purchasers wish to avoid appearing rude and build up a seller’s hopes by telling them what they want to hear; “It’s lovely – we’ll get back to you”. By the time they have seen several other properties their feedback to the agent about your particular home is likely to be minimal.

Additionally, the buyer will probably want to discuss aspects of the property out of the seller’s earshot. They may have plans that they feel would offend the seller, such as knocking down a wall the seller built!

When we show your property, immediate feedback can also be generated from buyers who might not have been so frank with you directly. This helps us understand their buyers and allows us to fine-tune our marketing efforts. Clients often say that sincere post-viewing feedback significantly helps to reduce the stress of selling, and after all, this is surely one of the most compelling reasons for appointing a professional and reputable estate agency to represent you in your sale.

Please feel free to contact us at any time on 023 92 602155 if you would like to discuss any aspect of the possible sale of your property, without obligation.