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Helpful Selling Tips

Selling a house is one of the biggest transactions you’ll ever make. So you need to do your homework thoroughly. Real Estate Realities is a free guide to buying, selling and investing in property in Queensland. Here are some things for you to think about.

Recent Sales (click here to see recent sales)

When accessing the value of a property you want to buy, it's important to be aware of other recent sales to help you arrive at the right price. We've archived all our recent sales to assist you - all accessible at the click of your mouse. Simply choose the area or suburb of your choice & click on search to access information.

The idea is to identify how the property you are interested in compares to other properties which have sold in your area recently. This will give you an idea of what your property many achieve if placed on the market.

Secrets to successfully selling your property

Selling your property is one of the most financially and personally significant challenges you will face. We have developed an approach that gives you a professional, carefully planned, stress free, and ultimately a profitable experience. The process, or indeed art, of presenting your property for sale is an important one to master. For most, the sale of a property comes around every 5-7 years. For others it has become a more regular event, choosing to capitalise on the opportunity of upgrading the family home and make substantial tax free gains in the process. Whatever your motive for selling, with good planning the process can be relatively stress free. The preparation you put into getting your property ready for sale can be the difference between getting a standard price and getting a great price. And, the best part is, it's not hard, time consuming or expensive.

Here are some tips to help you get the best outcome.

• Selecting the right agent

Many people may think that agents are all the same. In fact, they are not. We suggest you select an agent that has the following qualities:

• You are comfortable with the agent you choose.
• The agent should know the current market intimately.
• The agent should be able to supply you with comparative property sales which will give an indication of the likely selling price of your property.
• The agent should be able to demonstrate previous successful sales results.
• The agent should be able to suggest a definitive marketing plan – which will boost the exposure of your property to the highest number of potential buyers.
• The agent should be able to demonstrate superior negotiating skills / techniques.
• The agent should be able to provide timely feedback on how the sale process is travelling.
• The agent should behave ethically at all times.

• Timing

Buyers for good quality property can be found all year round. With the marketing process having become far more sophisticated over recent years, the issue of timing is less critical today than in the past. However, there are some important points you may wish to consider. The time required to sell property that is accurately priced will typically vary between two and six weeks. Prior to placing your property on the market, allow an additional two weeks to prepare both the property and the marketing material.

• Presentation

Presentation of your property is a critical factor in achieving the highest possible price. This is similar to detailing a car before you sell it. The emotional appeal required to stir the spirit of the buyers is unlikely to be generated by a poorly presented property. And a neglected building sends out 'warning signals' to prospective buyers. So it is important to do whatever you can to have your property looking its absolute best on inspection day. Make sure you tidy up and put clutter out of site. Clean up the kids’ toys. Take the dog for a walk when your house is on show.
Some of the less obvious things that put buyers off include:

• Animal odours in the house
• Evidence of damp or moisture in the walls
• Cigarette or strong food odours
• Doors, windows or gates that stick
• Cracked glass
• Too much furniture or personal belongings cluttering the space
• Stained carpet
• Dirty windows or blinds

To improve the presentation, seek an outside opinion. You walk past these things every day and probably don’t even notice them – but someone else will. Many of these problems can be fixed over a weekend for little expense. For vacant properties, you might like to consider the use of decorator furniture for the period of the sale. The average cost to furnish a typical three bedroom house for six weeks is likely to be in the range of $4,000-$6,000. In our experience, this can be an excellent investment in maximising the sale price of your property.

Cartwright Property Group is delighted to offer free market appraisals. If you would like advice on what your home is worth in today’s market, please complete the Market Appraisal form that is located under the 'selling' tab. One of our sales team will then contact you to arrange a suitable time to meet with you.