Ah, the age-old question ‘how long will it take to sell my home?’ Believe it or not, as a property photographer in Hertfordshire, my clients do sometimes ask me that question. It’s a question with many possible answers and one that no one can actually answer completely accurately. However, at present, properties in Bishop’s Stortford take somewhere between a week to 12 weeks on average before an offer is agreed.
But what if your home has been on the market for longer than that?
A speedy sale comes down to three main things. I like to call them the three P’s.
Price – how your asking price compares to what else is on the market and what buyers are prepared to pay.
Presentation – how well the property is presented for sale, is it ready for photos and viewings?
Promotion – the way the property is being marketed by the estate agent e.g. Rightmove adverts. This includes your property photos.
Price:
Now, I don’t like to state price as a problem, as too often it’s used by estate agents as an excuse for properties not selling. Actually, 90% of the time that’s not the main issue, but it’s an easy option. Sometimes however, the price CAN be wrong. It’s important to keep an eye on the competition and see what’s currently selling in your area. Have a look to see what’s sold, what’s not selling and where you think yours compares.
Also, have you heard of the Zero Pricing Strategy? Sometimes your price could be preventing the maximum number of buyers seeing your property – read my blog ‘How to get double the number of viewings’ to find out more.
Presentation:
Is your home presented well enough to attract the right kind of buyer? Buyers are notoriously bad at ‘seeing past’ things and imagining themselves living somewhere that’s not presented to their taste. In my days as an estate agent, I once showed some buyers round two properties in the same street, both with an identical floor plan but the better presented house was the one they chose despite it costing a whole lot more!
De-cluttering and taking great professional photographs are ideal ways to present your property in the best light. Getting the maximum number of viewings is the key.
Promotion:
When I say promotion, I really mean your Rightmove ad, as let’s face it – that’s where your property gets the most exposure to potential buyers. There are three key features of your Rightmove advert to think about:
- Your property photos – are they professional, attractive and make the most of your property?
- Your description – this should not be simply a list of rooms with their dimensions; that’s not going to sell it to anyone! It should be descriptive and engaging, making sure all the best features of your home are stressed.
- The first impression – when someone searches and your property comes up, it’s your main photo and the first description that need to grab the attention of a buyer.
If your estate agent markets your property at a realistic price, you present your property in the right way and your property marketing is professional and high quality, then you are much more likely to get a faster sale at the best price. Do consider investing in professional property photography as I know from first-hand experience what a big difference it can make – a faster sale and a better selling price.
If your property isn’t selling as quick as you’d like and you’d like to find out why, then why not get in touch with your property details – I’ll happily give you a few free pointers.
