By Steve Hatch

Buying habits have changed

The way people buy and sell houses has changed dramatically over the years.  Buyers research prices, area’s and even track the progress of certain properties for months before they start physically arranging viewings.  Appearance and smart marketing is everything!

Researching the websites

All the major property websites can help potential buyers with their research – Zoopla for example offer free access to house price data, as do Rightmove, Findaproperty, PrimeLocation, and the various other sites that we advertise our properties on.

Avoid looking desperate at all costs

The last approach I would recommend to any committed seller in the current housing market is to list their property with Multiple Agents – Why? – The simple answer is it looks desperate and in a tough market when there are fewer buyers around, the chances are you will be putting serious buyers off rather than attracting them!

A smarter approach actually costs less

Not only is a multiple agency listing likely to detract from your marketing (in my professional opinion), but you generally end up paying a much higher rate to any agent who does eventually sell it.  Ok, in a rising market when properties are getting snapped up this approach will often work well as it creates competition, but my advice to anyone selling in my local area is to think carefully about this approach.

I need to get moving so what are the alternative?

There seriously are many sensible alternatives to a multiple agency listing – I am happy to suggest a few to suit your circumstances if you want to email me steve(at)castles.uk.com

The point is that you should be having this conversation with your agent, but if you haven’t… the first thing to do is jump online and search for your own property on all the big websites in the same way that buyers do!

Are you on there?  Is it correctly priced?  Could your photos look better?  Has your agent made any suggestions, if so have you listened? The trick is to think like a buyer and be absolutely (and sometimes painfully) honest with yourself.

Lack of communication or guidance

Now one thing I do strongly believe in, is working closely ‘with’ our clients – needless to say we want the same result.  So, if you are listed with an agent who is not keeping in touch, or not making sensible suggestions to enhance your marketing… it may be worth considering switching to an agent who will.  Discuss your concerns openly with them first and if you are still not confident then it may be time to check the terms and email over the required written notice.

Getting it across

In my experience ‘most’ clients appreciate the absolute truth – delivered in a straight forward, respectful and diplomatic way, but most of all they appreciate some professional guidance that helps achieve the best result that also fits in with their circumstances.

Yes it’s a tough market at the moment BUT…

It’s certainly not all doom and gloom, there are some serious buyers out there, buyers that need to move for a variety of reasons.  The trick is to make your property stand out among others and attracts these serious buyers.

As a company we have used this advice along with our other marketing tools, professional ‘property photo shoots’ and ’60 second videos’ to attract more buyers and successfully help people to move during the last two recessions, so we know a thing or two about this stuff!

Smart Pricing, a well established professional and some superb marketing will get any property under offer regardless of what the housing market is doing!