Frequently Asked Questions When Selling

What price can I achieve for my property? 

The price of your home must be right. Too low and you lose money. Too high and you lose buyers. That’s where the intimate local market knowledge and expertise from your Harcourts marketing consultant comes in. Coupled with Harcourts advanced information technologies this knowledge proves invaluable. 

To receive a free appraisal of your property, click here . You can also discuss the sale price of your home with a Harcourts sales consultant who can use recent sales and market data to determine the best price for your home. You can find your local sales consultant by searching here . 

How do I choose a sales consultant? 

When it comes to selling your home, which is one of your most valuable assets, it makes sense to take the time to choose a qualified and knowledgeable sales consultant who has the right tools and strategies at their disposal. 

When speaking with a sales consultant don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you trust your consultant and to make sure you’re confident they have the experience to sell your home quickly and for the best price. To find out more on which questions to ask your sales consultant, see our article on How to Choose A Sales Consultant. 

What can I do to best prepare my home for sale? 

There are a few tips you can employ to prepare your home for sale, these include: 

• De-clutter. The first tip is the simplest. It’s obviously a must to clean and tidy your home before an inspection, but it’s crucial to also get rid of clutter that could stand in the way of a potential buyer picturing themselves within the home. 
• Repair. Make any aesthetic repairs well before inspection. Things as small as a chip in paint in an interior wall could detract from the overall feel for the home, so get these things up-to-date before your open home. 
• Style. Once clutter-free, consider using a home stylist or home staging service. The results can be dramatic. 
• Photograph. Before even getting to your first home inspection, consider using a professional photographer to take quality, well-lit pictures of your home. After going to the trouble of updating, de-cluttering and staging your property, the last thing you want to do is turn people away before they’ve even inspected your home. 

How long will it take to sell my property? 

Buyer interest is greatest for your property within the second and third week of its entrance into the market. After this, interest falls away quite dramatically. To maximise this window of opportunity your Harcourts sales consultant will design a marketing programme that peaks during this prime period. Your property will have the highest profile for this vital time. 

If you have decided to market your property with a price remember that it must be valued correctly right from the outset to benefit from this initial surge of interest. 

What are the benefits of holding an open home? 

Open homes are one of the most effective ways of marketing a property and attracting interest from a wide variety of buyers. Some of the advantages are:  

• You have plenty of time to ensure your property is tidy and ready for inspections  
• You can control the viewing times  
• Open homes can create plenty of activity, even in a slow market  
• Interest and activity can trigger urgency with buyers  
• The sales consultant’s time is put to best and most effective use. They will have the opportunity to talk to numerous people about your property 
• Comments from open home visitors can provide feedback on price, presentation, sales appeal, etc. 

What are the benefits to selling at auction? 

The advantages of an auction are numerous. You set the terms, conditions and deadline. You agree on an undisclosed minimum reserve price, with no pressure to sell if the property fetches a lower than expected bid. There’s also the very real possibility of acquiring a higher price – especially if keen buyer interest promotes competition.  

You’ll also attract only genuinely interested, cash-in-hand buyers with no subject-to-sale or subject-to finance uncertainty. There is even the opportunity to accept offers prior to auction day.  

A positive statistical sales rate together with property being on the market for such a short time have many regarding auctions as the most successful non-price method of selling.  

What is the difference between an open and exclusive listing? 

Exclusive listing avoids the frustrations and lack of action so often experienced when dealing with a number of different real estate companies. It sidesteps the conflicting agendas and different procedures and maintains a strong brand grounding for your property. 

In contrast, an open listing is where different consultants from a variety of real estate companies are enlisted to sell your home. Getting many people from different real estate companies working for you may sound great but in reality it can be confusing and frustrating. The lack of co-ordination, cohesion and focus is often more disruptive than advantageous as personality and ego conflicts can add to the stress and sense of dislocation sellers sometimes experience.