Selling your home can be a daunting task, it can seem like an endless list of challenges and potential pitfalls, but there is a way to make this easier. We’ve drawn up a list of common mistakes that can delay the sale of your house and cause you more stress than necessary.
These do’s and don’ts will help to get your listing to stand out amongst the rest and the viewings flooding in.
1. Set a realistic price
What is a realistic price? House prices fluctuate and in certain areas will never be able to exceed a specific range.
Setting the bar too high will lead to no interest or offers that do not meet your minimum expectations. Low pricing is not always the answer either as your property may be missed by potential buyers looking to pay a little more for that stand-out home.
In short, it is essential to strike a balance between your ideal selling price and that which is most appealing to buyers. Always remember to leave some margin for negotiation and this will lead to a price where all parties can be happy.
Alternatively, why not let one of our experienced staff value your property for you and ensure that this pricing is done with intricate local knowledge and market research.
2. Sell at the right time
When is the right time to sell your property in Javea? Unfortunately there is no definitive answer to this question. There are peak times throughout the year where buyers are more active but this does not always mean it is the best time to sell your property as many purchaser also tend to research online during the off season.
According to research the typical time it can take to sell your property in Spain is 10 months. Recently in our experience we have seen this shortened significantly with some properties on our website only lasting a matter of weeks before they are reserved, but as an average a 10-month expectation is a good target to aim for.
The winter months can be much quieter than the summer months due to the psychological effect this has when viewing properties. Consider the difference between being able to picture yourself relaxing in the sun with the warmth on your face to that on a cold winters day indoors with less natural light.
3. Don’t hide issues
It can seem like a good idea to hide issues when potential buyers come to view your property, but this is a risky strategy. In our experience it can either make the deal fall through further down the line or leave the buyers with doubts. In most cases it will get discovered either by ourselves the agency, the client, or a surveyor. We recommend that you try to sort the issue out, but if they cannot be resolved easily the pricing should be adjusted to reflect the work that must be done.
Honesty will go a long way to ensuring your property is sold without mishap further down the road.
4. Good photography
Great photography can make or break a property sale. Whether you are looking to sell an apartment for 100,000€ or a villa for 1,000,000€, decent photography matters. 90% of property searches now begin online, agents websites or property portals are your shop window, this means you get one shot to make a first impression. Good quality imagery catch the attention of buyers and show your property at its best. That is not to say that they promise more than is actually there, but they should be clear, with well taken photos of each area of the property.
Although modern smart phones can capture decent images nowadays they can’t compare to that of an SLR camera with a decent wide angle lens and good editing. For the best results we highly recommend hiring a professional property photographer with drone.
5. Hire an agent
Well we would say that wouldn’t we? But the honest truth is that having an experienced local agent on your side is an asset worth having. From the initial market appraisal, qualifying the purchasers, the viewings, along with experience in the local market and an established national and international partner network are just a few of the reasons why an estate agent can help to make your selling process quicker and easier.
To find out more please feel free to contact one of our friendly staff or call into our Jávea office.
Happy selling!