Moving On Up?
Posted: Monday 9 May 2011
Every parent loves to see their children grow and develop. But those of us who have gone on holiday with a small child or young family will know that children don’t travel light and as they grow older the amount of equipment, clothing and other paraphernalia they accumulate along the way can soon begin causing storage problems. At some point your thoughts are likely to turn towards moving up the property ladder, ideally to a home with more bedrooms, a bigger kitchen and a garden for the kids to play in.
But in a market where there are more properties for sale than there are buyers, how do you make your property stand out from the rest?
The key to a successful marketing campaign is to familiarise yourself with the selling process well in advance of putting your house on the market. Take time to plan ahead and to prepare your property for sale. Find out about the many new marketing initiatives that are available. Here we look at a few of the new practices and initiatives that are available, as well as offering practical advice that can help to speed up the advertising process and lead to a successful sale.
Home Report and repairs
Before marketing your property you will need a Home Report. This is made up of:-
(i) a Single Survey;
(ii) an Energy Performance Certificate; and
(iii) a Property Questionnaire.
The Home Report is instructed by your selling agent and ideally should be dated no more than a couple of weeks before you put your property on the market. Before commissioning a Home Report, attend to those repairs you have been meaning to get round to. Have the roof checked over and replace any slipped or broken slates. Depending on cost, you may also want to consider attending to leaking rhones and downpipes. Replace any grouting around the bath and shower that’s needing attention and replace tiles in the kitchen or bathroom that are cracked or have come away. These are all points that we will be picked up by your surveyor and it is as well to attend to these before the survey is carried out.
Declutter and depersonalise
Take the opportunity to declutter. A daunting task at the best of times! Donate any unwanted books, clothing, toys, games and DVDs to your local charity shop. Some charities will uplift unwanted items of furniture and white goods in good condition. Purchasers will ask about storage, so clear out cupboards and built in wardrobes – prospective buyers likely to want to have a peek inside these. Clear kitchen surfaces and remove any personal items, such as photographs and ornaments. Put larger items of furniture into storage, and don’t be tempted to place these items in the garage, attic or garden shed, as most purchasers will want to inspect these areas as well.
Define your living space
Remember when you are selling your house you are also selling a lifestyle. Give some thought to who is going to want to buy your property and what their needs are likely to be. Wherever possible you should aim to achieve a clearly defined layout of all rooms in your home. Think about reinstating the dining room and restoring the spare room you are currently using as a study or playroom to a bedroom. Create as much space as possible. You want a purchaser to be able to visualise himself living in your property.
Décor and Decorating
Bear in mind that bright colours are not to everyone’s tastes. If you are thinking of redecorating, consider using neutral tones. These help to create light and space. Attend to chipped woodwork and repair wooden floors. Accentuate any period features, such as cornicing and fireplaces.
Clean, dust and polish. Your house should shine, admittedly not the easiest thing to achieve with young children about. Clean the windows inside and out. Replace worn rugs and freshen up bed linen. Add some colour co-ordinated cushions and throws and fresh towels in the bathroom.
External
Remember, first impressions count! Paint the front door and tidy the garden. Neatly mown lawns, trimmed hedges and well tended borders all add to the appeal of a property. You might want to consider employing a gardener to carry out maintenance work and repair or repaint garden fences in need of attention. In the spring and summer months power wash patio areas and invest in some good quality garden furniture, to create a comfortable and appealing outdoor living space. Invest in plant pots and colourful tubs to add a splash of colour. These are relatively inexpensive and can be taken with you when you move.
If all this sounds too exhausting to consider taking on yourself, at Morton Fraser we have contacts with a number of specialists who can help, whether you are looking for advice on how to style a particular room or need a gardener or handyman to deal with any odd jobs that need doing.
Viewing
If possible avoid cooking immediately before viewing times to avoid food odours. If you have pets ask a friend to look after these at viewing times. Similarly, remove food bowls and litter trays. Most people opt for open viewing and, since this is likely to be for a minimum of two hours, consider making arrangements for the children to go to friends or family whilst viewing is taking place. With the best will in the world, two hours is very long time to expect children to keep themselves amused. A bored child will distract both you and prospective purchasers from concentrating on the house. Offer to show viewers round and then give them time to look round the property themselves.
If you are going on holiday or feel you would rather someone else handle your viewings, we can arrange this on your behalf using one of our team of experienced viewing agents.
Marketing Initiatives
Our estate agency department will agree with you a marketing campaign to suit your budget. It is always worthwhile investing in good quality sale particulars -- even in this technological age, you would be surprised how many purchasers still ask to see at set of sale particulars. The traditional For Sale board is also a must. Then, of course, there is the internet, which is by far the most effective way to market your property. At Morton Fraser our easy to use website enables prospective purchasers to access and download details of your property. As members of Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) we are able to market your property on espc.com. We also offer new initiatives such as mobile sites, iPhone apps and QR (Quick response) codes that allow interested parties to access details of your property from their iPhone as well as “movie” shoots that provide a professional video of your property.
Pricing
Offers over (O/O), offers around (O/A), offers in the region of (OIRO) and fixed price (FP) -– what do they all mean? Our expert team of sale negotiators will ensure you pitch your property at just the right price. Our team will stay in regular contact, keep you advised of notes of interest and follow up with parties that have viewed your property to gain as much feedback as possible.
Clinching the deal
We will negotiate the best deal for you. Don’t necessarily take the first offer you receive, but also be realistic on price. Remember, if you can negotiate a good price with a date of entry to suit, this will allow you to take advantage of market conditions. So with your sale “in the bag” you can turn your attention to finding your new home.
We appreciate that buying a property will probably represent the biggest investment you are likely to make. Our estate agency and legal team will work closely with you to ensure the selling and purchasing processes are as seamless (and stress free!) as possible.
Look out for our next article for tips and advice on how to secure that ideal new home, with all the accommodation (and storage) you and your family will need for many years to come.
Catherine Macdonald is an Associate in Morton Fraser’s Property + team specialising in all aspects of residential property sales and purchases. If you are considering moving or have any questions about selling or buying then you can contact Catherine on 0131 247 1086 or catherine.macdonald@morton-fraser.com.
