Over the last 5 years house prices in Swindon have risen by over 26%. With the current average home value standing at £233,823, homeowners in Swindon who bought just 5 years ago could see a return of up to £50,000 on the sale of their home, according to the latest Land Registry figures.
With the £11.5m project to improve the M4 due for completion in 2018 and the Swindon Station electrification programme that began this month – local estate agents are witnessing a huge increase in the number of buyers who are looking to invest in Swindon.
How can you get the best price for your home?
Craig says: “Getting the best price for your property is sometimes not the easiest thing to achieve. There are many factors to consider in the market at the time of selling.”
However, he goes on to explain there are some fairly easy things you can do to help make sure you get the best price possible.
Find the right estate agent
Firstly he suggests it is paramount to find the right agent to advertise your property. A great place to start is to look for agents who advertise on Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation to make sure your property is getting maximum coverage.
“Due to the rising cost of listing homes one these sites, many traditional estate agents are selective about where they post. The less exposure you get, the less interest you’ll have in your property. It’s as simple as that.” Craig adds that naturally every estate agent has a favourite site where they share property listings, but in this situation less is definitely not more.
He notes that this online presence is particularly important as he has seen an increase in out of area buyers relocating to Swindon.
Make an outstanding first impression
Craig says that in recent years the internet has become the shop window, so making sure your property stands out starts with home staging. This will get more potential buyers through the door for viewings as well as help you secure a price you’re happy with.
“Before photographing the property I get in touch with the seller with some advice on what looks best, so they can prepare their home in advance. This includes tips like taking down children’s artwork and family photos, as well as decluttering work spaces and children’s bedrooms.”
He explains how a potential buyer wants to be able to picture their life in the house, and that can be more difficult with the current owners’ personal items around.
Think carefully about your listing
Craig says, “everyone has a different reason behind buying a property but in my experience many relocate because of work or family, so making sure you advertise the benefits of your location to transport links is a must.”
Conduct the perfect viewing
“Prepare your house just as you did for the photographs,” Craig advises. “And park your car around the corner so the potential buyer gets a great first impression of the house. If possible, make sure family members are out of the house and remove any pets at the viewing. You might love your pooch but the viewer may not!”
With the huge rise in online estate agents offering much cheaper fees, these days sellers have the option to let their agent conduct their viewings, or to host them themselves.
Craig says there are benefits to both: “An agent will know more about the property market, but you know more about the home, local community and can answer questions your agent might not know the answer to.”
He insists that if you’re nervous about the viewings then don’t hesitate to ask your agent for advice, “Local YOPA Agents are always at the other end of the line even outside of working hours!”
How to win a quick sale
He explains pitching correctly in the current market is a must. By lowering your price ever so slightly and listing your property as ‘offers over’ will not only generate more interest but could actually gain you a higher agreeable fee.
