5 Big No-nos When Selling Your Home

Published: 23/12/2022

We want to help you find your perfect buyer; of course, we do, and we make it our mission to achieve as close to that as possible. But it is also important to be realistic about what you want and how best to accomplish that. The benefit of engaging an agent to help – and not just any agent but the RIGHT agent – is that they have the experience and knowledge to help the process go as smoothly as possible whilst achieving the result you want.

If you have lived in your property for several years, you will likely have grown quite fond of it. We get that. Your home is your castle; it is where you retreat after a difficult day at work, where you share your life with your partner, and for many, where you raise your children. It is full of memories, mostly happy ones, and the ones that maybe aren’t so happy are still part of your journey. The idea of walking away from that is tough. But a house move is usually the start of a new chapter; for most, it is a positive change.

Moving house is more often than not a choice…a big change leading to an exciting new future. So as agents, we feel it is important to look forward to what you want to achieve and to support you in meeting those goals, We don’t claim to work miracles, but we are confident in how to sell ‘property properly’. With many years of combined knowledge between us, Gray & Toynbee know what needs to be done. So, let’s look at some of the key mistakes many sellers (and, unfortunately, agents) make.

Not Accommodating Viewings

Fitting around other people’s viewing preferences can be tricky, but it is usually necessary. No one expects you to open the door in a dressing gown and slippers at 9pm, but it is unrealistic to limit viewing times to a two-hour timeslot once a week. It is important to remember that you only have one property to sell, but buyers are possibly viewing many. So as far as you can, it is recommended that viewers have some level of flexibility. We also suggest making the house look as clean, tidy and presentable as possible. It all helps them to visualise how they would feel living there. Maybe also avoid that fish pie for dinner – smells are everything when it comes to triggering thoughts and emotions, so let’s stir up the right ones.

Not Budging on the Asking Price

Of course, you want your asking price; in fact, we are sure you would like even more, but we also need to be realistic. Most buyers will want to negotiate; they will want to feel that they have got their new property for a reasonable price and one that fits comfortably within their budget. But this is where the support of a good estate agent comes in. We know buyers will make offers, and we also know roughly what those offers will be. Therefore, a property must be marketed at a price the seller is happy with but allows room for negotiation. If the asking price is achieved, that is a huge win, but if some level of negotiation takes place, then the result can still be one that all parties are happy with. Achieving the asking price can boil down to many things, including how the market is at the time, but our role is to support you with that. We will guide the way.

Letting Emotions Dictate Decision

We have covered emotions, but it is one of the biggest hurdles when selling a house. Buyers are blunt and honest, so while viewing your property, they may not hold back their thoughts and opinions…and that can be extremely tough to listen to. Your choice of wallpaper or bathroom tiles may not fit with their vision. But however hard it is, we advise treating the process like a business meeting – which it kind of is! They aren’t there to be your friend; they are there to, hopefully, buy your house, so let’s focus on the goal and the steps we need to take to get there. If you remove the emotion (easier said than done, of course), things can be much more straightforward.

Not Addressing Repairs

The last thing you want to do when selling your property is throw a lot of money at it. You want that money to spend on your new home. But unfortunately, unfinished maintenance, dodgy decorating, and damp-smelling rooms just aren’t going to sell a property. If you want to sell your house in a reasonable timeframe and for a price that makes you happy, then sometimes investing a bit of time and money into it in the early days is hugely beneficial. Small sacrifices for significant gain!

Skimping on Good Marketing

So, we left this one until last because it is key – do NOT skimp on good marketing, as it is the marketing that will attract potential buyers in the first place. A well-marketed property with a good quality selection of photos and a floorplan is significantly more likely to attract viewings than one without. Why? Because for someone to express interest in a property, they need to be able to visualise themselves living there even before they have walked through the door. Just a description on the website isn’t going to do that. The house needs to look like their potential new home, and we can help achieve that with a great marketing team with all the necessary tools and knowledge.

Selling Your Property? Let’s Do This!

There is nothing too complicated on our list, and all are things that a good estate agent should be able to take the lead and guide you on. If you want to sell your property and are looking for an experienced agent to help, then you know where we are…
Chat with us on WhatsApp