Smart Seller Tips For A Buyer's Market

It's no secret that the Melbourne property market has dropped off in 2018 with clearance rates now in the 50% range. Therefore, It is imperative that if you are planning to sell your property that you adhere to the processes and do everything in your power to ensure the best price is achieved. This needn’t be a stressful time, full of angst so long as you are prepared to put in the work and have a well-executed strategy

Here are our top tips for sellers

Trust your agent: You will hopefully have done your due diligence on which real estate agency and agent to appoint and entrust with the sale of your property. Therefore, without giving them complete free reign, heed their advice. They are on your side and should be working towards the same goal. Charlie Barham from Nelson Alexander Carlton North advises “Try not to get caught up in empty promises, if you have appointed the right agent then if the buyers are out there we will find them”.  A successful sales campaign requires a vendor to empower their agent to do the best job. Vendors who don’t listen to their advisers often don’t get the best results.

Keep yourself abreast of what the market is doing

Ask questions about the market and keep an open dialogue with your advisors and agents. There is so much material and statistics flushed into the media about the state of the market at any given time which can be confusing and misleading. Your agents know the market better than anyone given they are in it day in, day out.

Presentation

Although this has always been an important aspect of the sale process, it is critical in a buyer's market to tick every box in terms of correct presentation. Charlie Barham goes on to say, “it is important to make your property stand out in this market, attention to detail is vital”. Clever presentation doesn’t mean you need to go out and spend a fortune on furniture, often less is more and a simple de-cluttering of a room and some well-placed pieces can make all the difference and give buyers the imagination they need.

Flexibility

This is a key component when it comes to the sale of your property. This comes in many forms such as allowing access for private inspections at different times of the day or styling your property differently over the course of an auction campaign. Again, rest assured any inconveniences and changes are for the greater good. It is important you allow potential buyers all the opportunities they need to inspect and re-inspect the property as without them on auction day you could forgo tens of thousands of dollars.

Set realistic expectations

Understand and accept where the market is at today. Buyers are being very picky in this market and they can afford to be. By no means should you sell your property for a less than fair price, but holding out for an unrealistic price could drag the process out for months and see your property become stale. Aim for a fair price for both parties and hopefully, you will be pleasantly surprised.