With the property market now open again, activity can resume and buyers and sellers can push deals over the line, as long as they follow the extensive government guidance on house moves.
But how can you sell your home in a safe and successful manner in the ‘new normal’?
Here, we outline some top tips, from choosing the right agent and conveyancer to staging your home in the right way.
Pick the right agent
This is arguably more important than ever, given the current climate and the various new safety guidelines we all must follow. An experienced, knowledgeable local agent is worth their weight in gold, just like any other good professional such as an electrician or a dentist. The right agent will be able to instil confidence in you that they know how to adapt to the new environment, and the various social distancing and hygiene protocols this requires, as well as setting the asking price at a level that takes into account all recent national and regional factors.
Remember, be wary of companies and businesses that operate on an upfront payment or guaranteed payment (whether your house sells or not) basis. Always check an agent’s website for reviews and to see whether they have been verified by a reputable company such as Trustpilot or Feefo. Again, recommendations from friends, family and colleagues can also prove extremely useful.
Partner with the right conveyancer
Selling a home can be a stressful experience – and may be even more so at this time with so many things to think about– so it’s vitally important that you have the right legal team on board to help you through the process.
Conveyancing is arguably the most important part of any PROPERTY house transaction. Recommendations from friends or loved ones can be useful here – if they’ve done a good job for someone you know, chances are they’ll do a good job for you, too. In some cases, your agent will have a tie-up or close relationship with a particular firm who they can recommend to you.
The right conveyancer will be someone who’s available seven days a week, accessible online and who will work with your agent, not against them, to help coordinate and progress your sales or purchase quickly and efficiently.
Here at Kings Group, for example, we have our own conveyancing service to help you through the process with ease, keeping any stress and hassle to a minimum. You can find out more here.
The results show our sales progress quicker and are more successful in reaching the desired goal of the client – i.e. moving home – when one of our recommended conveyancers are used.
Revitalise your home
As we all know, first impressions count double for house buyers, so it’s essential that all parts of your home look up to scratch. This is even more so the case now that virtual tours are the first port of call. You’ll give yourself a far better chance of converting a buyer doing a virtual tour to a serious buyer conducting a physical one by offering a very warm, welcoming and attractive home.
Now, with the government insisting we all still stay at home as much as possible, is the perfect moment to get all those pesky DIY tasks and odd jobs out of the way, whether it be repainting a tired front door or finally replacing the broken handles on the kitchen cupboards.
At the same time, a thorough deep-clean – which is something you should repeat after any in-person viewings – will help your home to sparkle. You can hire in professional cleaners now, as long as they adhere to the new rules on social distancing and hygiene, but a DIY approach would of course be cheaper.
Stay safe at all times
We outlined in our last blog the new rules on in-person viewings, branch visits and various other measures the government is encouraging to make the process as safe as possible, such as prioritising remote solutions wherever possible.
It’s important that you, your agent and the prospective buyers all adhere to the same rules to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved. By being sensible, and sticking to the rules on social distancing and hygiene, you actually increase the chances of a quicker sale – as you limit the possibility of anyone getting ill and having to self-isolate.
Declutter and bring the light in
Purchasers find it much simpler to envision themselves living in a home if it is clutter-free and a blank canvas, in effect. There’s a fine balance to be struck here, because of course you don’t want to strip your home completely of its character, but a home that feels too lived-in is unlikely to go down well with buyers.
As a result, clearing away the clutter, the knick-knacks and the personal effects should improve your chances of selling.
Equally, a very well-lit home will have far more appeal than a dank, dark one – even more so now we’re entering the summer months. Lights tend to be on during viewings for a reason – it helps to enhance and accentuate your home’s best attributes.
Also, light, airy homes tend to have wide appeal as they allow for a warm, homely atmosphere to be created.
Consider how you stage your home
Studies have revealed that staging your home can help to sell it faster and for a higher asking price. Luckily, this takes neither much time, effort nor money. Simple things such as ensuring the entrance is well-maintained, pleasing on the eye and welcoming, and encouraging an easy flow between the various parts of your house, can help hugely.
Garden space, if you have it, should be tidy and colourful, and little touches such as fresh flowers and house plants can bring the outdoors in, having a calming effect and bringing some excellent vibrancy and colour to your home.
Here at Kings Group, our offices are now open again from 10am to 5pm, strictly adhering to our Covid-19 policy. You can find out more about our client Covid policy here. To find out more about getting your home sold in these unusual times, please contact us at one of our many branches across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
