Date Published 07 March 2016
After you've chosen your agent, now is the time to start making your home as attractive as possible to anyone who comes to see it. It is also vital to pave the way for the legalities of the sale.
PART II – I'VE CHOSEN MY AGENT: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
1. Preparing your home
Most home-owners feel their home is set up almost to perfection and exactly how they like it. But sadly, not everyone will feel the same way, and it is always best to make your home as appealing as possible to the greatest number of people. There are several things that you can do to help with presentation. For a more detailed discussion of this point, please see our Feb 1, 2016 blog: Preparing to market your property
2. Choose Your Solicitor
It is vital that you choose a conveyancing specialist and instruct them right at the outset. When a sale has been agreed, the buyer's solicitor will need all the relevant information on the property; it is very important that your solicitor has already prepared it and can send it out without any delay.
Your agent should be able to provide a list of excellent conveyancing solicitors to choose from.
3. Launching your home onto the Market
Having advised on price and marketing strategy, your agent should then do the following
• Fantastic Photographs
Your photographers should be experts at seeing the perfect angle to take the picture and then setting up the shot. This may include moving furniture, dressing tables or fireplaces, plumping up cushions etc. They should have the very latest equipment with incredibly wide-angle lenses and should combine several different lighting conditions into one photograph. Their pictures should have the final polish added in the lab before being sent to your agent.
• Commission a floor plan
All floor plans should be measured and drawn in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Code of Measuring Practice. It should be presented on the page in a way that is easy to read and to understand.
• Prepare a Brochure
Your agent should offer a bespoke approach for your property which may include a high quality brochure for which they should always invite your input.
The brochure will be either landscape or portrait depending on the suitability of the property and your needs.
4. Finding the Buyer
• Distribute a Launch Flyer to targeted end-users
When your property is launched onto the market, it is important that it is offered to a targeted selection of end-users in your area.
Your agent may commission a teaser flyer specifically about your property which would then then hand delivered to selected streets.
• Offer the property to all known suitable buyers and buyers' agents through such routes as:
• An important first step is for your agent to pick up the telephone to their ‘ready' buyers. Often, the earlier viewings are the most promising as these will be your agents' most suitable buyers.
• Advertising the property on the Internet Portals (such as Rightmove and OntheMarket) and their own website.
• A targeted advertising campaign in the Glossy Property Magazines.
• A targeted social media campaign.
• Your agent should make clear to you if these costs are included in the fee they have quoted you. If it not clear, do not be shy about asking.
• Work out a tailored plan for viewings:
Your agent should schedule the viewings around your lifestyle – not vice-versa. For example, viewings may need to take account of a baby or small children and must not conflict with afternoon naps, the school run, homework, bath-time, etc. Similarly, you may only want viewings on one or two days each week. Your agent should accommodate this.
• Agree a schedule for feedback:
Some clients like feedback after each viewing, others may prefer a round-up at the end of each week. Some prefer a phone call; whilst those with busy work schedules or living internationally may prefer to communicate via email. Your agent should tailor the feedback schedule to your needs, not theirs.
5. The Option of Discreet Marketing
Some properties may suit an off-market or discreet approach, and some sellers may not want their property advertised, and instead might prefer a quiet, word-of-mouth marketing campaign. Your agent should be able to offer both.
We hope you have found these tips useful. If you would like to discuss any of the points raised here, please feel free to call us, with more than 100 years' experience on the patch, at John Wilcox & Co we are here to serve you.
Join us next week for Part III in our series:
PART III -THE BIG PICTURE AND EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT THE MARKET.
