Selling Tips

What is the role of a real estate agent?

Agents understand that buying or selling property is as much a matter of the heart as the head. Drawing on their vast property expertise and knowledge of your area an agent will:

• Provide a realistic indication of the value of your property.
• Help you decide whether to list the property for sale, put the property out to tender or to auction.
• Organise, attend and record prospective buyers at open for inspection days.
• Manage enquiries about your property.
• Provide access to more potential buyers via their own prospect database.
• Handle sale negotiations on your behalf and strive to achieve the best possible result.
• Advise on and coordinate the marketing of your property, including preparation of flyers, floor plans and photography.
• Prepare a professional advertising program for newspapers and online.
• Prepare a Contract of Sale.
• Provide guidance on conveyancing, legal and financial services.

Questions to ask when choosing an agent

You’re making a big financial decision and it’s essential that you develop a good partnership with your real estate agent.

Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you need to,
such as:

• How long have you been licensed to sell real estate?
• How long have you been active in our suburb or region?
• How much experience have you had in selling properties comparable to ours?
• How much did these properties sell for and when?
• What is your top and bottom estimate for the sale of our property?
• How much commission do you charge?
• Can you provide the details of a past client for us to contact?
• Can you provide an example of what the marketing schedule might look like?
• How much will advertising in newspapers and online cost?

Advertising your property

Advertising is crucial to maximising the amount of enquiry you get for your property and therefore the sales price. A well-balanced marketing schedule exposes your property to the widest possible audience, generating more enquiries and therefore more competition that will result in a higher sales price.

However, as advertising is usually the biggest single expense in the sales process, it’s important you understand the components of a marketing schedule and your agent’s advertising proposals.

We can also assist you if you are unsure how much to spend on your advertising.

Tip: Your real estate agent can increase the number of times your property is viewed on realestate.com.au by up to 10 times! Download our online advertising flyer and ask your agent for details about Feature Property and Guaranteed Top Spot advertising.

Presenting your property

They say in property that location is everything, but when it comes to making a successful sale and maximising your property’s value, the name of the game is presentation.

There’s an old saying – ‘first impressions last’ – and nothing could be truer when it comes to presenting your property for sale. That means a tidy and presentable interior and exterior, as many people will drive-by before deciding whether to inspect it on open days.

Your property is usually just one in a very long list of properties a buyer will see, so it’s crucial that they see it in the best possible light. The more desirable your property appears, the better your sale price is likely to be.

Here are a few tips that can help you get your home ready to show:

Clean Everything – Cleanliness signals to a buyer that the home has been well cared for and is most likely in good repair.

Pavement Appeal – Make sure the front of your home looks appealing and inviting with weed free gardens, some attractive pot plants and lawns mown.

Cut the clutter – You want the prospective buyer to be able to imagine there own belongings in the property, so de clutter to keep things tidy. Less clutter will also make rooms appear larger and the professional photos come up a lot better.

Let the light in – Raise the shades, open blinds and pull back the curtains. Bright, open rooms feel larger and more inviting.

Freshen up – Get rid of any odours in the property, open windows, brew some coffee and brighten the place up with fresh flowers.

Fix it – Fix small repairs that buyers may notice, from leaking taps to a broken bulb. A lick of paint may also be an option for rooms with minor scuffs and scrapes and create a fresh feel. Basic maintenance work will help to ensure buyers dont find any faults.

Photographing and preparing your property for photography

Our professional photographer is one of the best things that we can do to make your home shine. But before the photographer arrives there are a few things that you should do to prepare your home as the more you prepare your home before the photographer arrives, the better the pictures are going to look.

First impressions matter – From a photography standpoint, the real estate photographer will take photos from the doorway area, and they will also make sure of windows and natural light in the room.

Less is more – it is always best to clear the clutter out of every room, because a clean space is more appealing. The goal is to create a stylish, generic room in which buyers can picture themselves living in.

Get rid of the grime – A quick wipe down to clean the house isn’t enough to get rid of the grime, and it is important that all areas are cleaned well and make sure that windows are spotless, they should be washed to get rid of fingertips or marks.

Pets – If you have pets, it is best to have them out of the way during your photo shoot, open homes and if possible for private inspections.

Exterior Presentation – Exterior tasks should include:

• Pull out weeds
• Trim trees and overgrown shrubs
• Rake leaves
• Mow the lawn and trim edges
• Wrap up garden hoses and put them away
• Pick up any items laying around the yard, such as garden tools, garbage bins and toys.
• Cover dirt with mulch to make it look more attractive
• Move cars out of driveway
• Sweep the porch and side walks
• If you have the outdoor furniture, wipe it down and make sure cushions look clean and nice.

Property plans provide valuable additional information that assists a buyers decision to buy.  They also provide a significant advantage to sellers, helping the buyers remember not only the images that attracted them to the property, but the layout, aspect and features of the home. With this in mind property plans are not negotiable inclusions when listing your property with Ray White Newcastle Lake Macquarie.

Checklist – Presenting your property

First impressions count, so it’s important to make sure your property looks its best from the moment it goes onto the market for sale.

And that doesn’t just mean a clean and tidy interior, it means ensuring the exterior is as presentable and attractive as you can make it, because many people will check a property out for the first time with a drive-by before deciding whether to inspect it on open days.

From fresh coffee brewing on open days to little touches like fresh flowers, there’s no shortage of ways to present your property in its best light and maximise your selling price.

See below for a full check list of what you can do to get your home ready to sell.

Exterior

Replace, repair and or paint/damaged:

• External cladding
• Gutters
• Doors
• Window frames
• Glazing
• Screens
• Fences/gates
• Outdoor lighting

Clean/wash:

• Walls
• Windows
• Fly screens
• Outdoor BBQ
• Remove rubbish
• Repair leaky taps
• Clean up pet droppings
• Paint or varnish doors
• Make sure doorbell/knocker works
• Paint or replace street numbers on house
• Clean oil stains from driveway/street
• Patch/reseal driveway

Put light bulbs in:

• Porch lights
• Carport
• Garage

Landscaping

• Mow/edge lawn regularly
• Over seed bare spots in lawn
• Water lawn regularly
• Remove/replace dead plants
• Prune or remove shrubs/general tidy up
• Weed flower beds
• Adjust sprinkler systems

Repair or remove any broken or damaged landscape accessories such as:

• Fences
• Walls
• Water features
• Trellises or planters

All Rooms

Clean especially around:

• Doors
• Windows
• Light Switches
• Baseboards
• Chair rails
• Remove or pull back dark curtains
• Squeaky doors if necessary
• Clean ceiling light fixtures
• Check for cobwebs in all corners
• Fix any scratches in wooden floors
• Replace worn/broken flooring
• Remove or replace worn carpet
• Use rugs where needed
• Make beds
• Fluff pillows
• Make sure all light bulbs are working

Kitchen

Clean/wash:

• Keep dishes and food out of sight
• Clean appliances
• Clean range hood, including light bulbs
• Clean behind appliances
• Remove magnets/etc from fridge
• Keep floor clean
• Clean light fixtures
• Make sure all electrical outlets work
• Eliminate cooking odours
• Deodorize garbage disposal, dishwasher and refrigerator
• Repair faucets
• Put fresh shelf paper in cabinets
• Organize cupboards
• Clean under sink
• Replace garbage disposal gasket reduce noise

Bathrooms

Keep them spotlessly clean:

• Shine mirrors
• Keep waste baskets empty/clean
• Clean out cabinets and remove non essentials
• Keep fresh, clean towels on towel racks
• Clean shower door – if sliding door, keep track well lubricated
• Remove soap residue, mildew and mould from sink/tub/shower
• Remove stains from porcelain sink/tub/toilet
• Clean tile grout
• Make sure toilet flushes properly; replace mechanism if necessary
• Clean exhaust fan, heater

Wardrobes

• Keep closets clean and free from clutter
• Throw out or pack away non essentials
• Adjust/repair sliding doors
• Oil sliding door hardware
• Paint if needed

Laundry Area

• Clean out area behind washer/dryer
• Eliminate any mildew odours

Heating/Air Conditioning Unit

• Vacuum
• Replace filter
• Clean intake vent
• Remove any stored items