6 Steps to a Successful Campaign to Sell Your House

From seasoned investors to first-time sellers, everyone wants a great result when it comes time to sell.

Once you’ve decided to put your property on the market, there are some simple ways to strategically get the most from your sales campaign.

Here’s what you should consider before putting up that For Sale sign.

1. Choose an agent

Getting the right agent will help with your sales campaign.

---

Melbourne’s Nathan Fearn has an effective method of choosing real estate agents. When it came time to sell his house in Hurstbridge, he visited nearby open for inspections to road test his local agents.

“Talk to them as a buyer, go through the house and don’t mention that you’re selling,” he says.

“Then you understand exactly what they’re going to do for you. And you can see whether their selling style suits you.”

The Agent Search engine on realestate.com.au also allows you to research agents based on location, property type and price range.

2. Choose a time to sell

Consider what time of year is best for the sale.

Take into account your family’s plans.  You may want to avoid selling when your teenager is preparing for exams or if you have a newborn in the house.

You may also want to think about the weather and which season really makes your house and garden shine.

Spring is a popular time to sell, but the real estate market operates all year round.

3. Make necessary repairs

Repair and fix the flaws in your property before selling it.

---

Your house may have some areas that need to be repaired or fixed before it goes on the market.

Bronte Manuel, Toop & Toop sales partner and corporate auctioneer, says one of his first priorities with new vendors is to organise quotes for all repairs.

“Once you’ve got quotes on what needs doing to enhance it, you can weigh up the pro and cons of carrying out the works,” he says.

4. Presentation is everything

Dressing your house for success is vital for any sales campaign. Hiring a professional house stylist was well worth the $1500 spend for Fearn and his family.

“For me, it’s just about making sure it’s minimalist so people come in and picture what they want,” he says.

“That’s where the person who comes in and looks at all your clutter and junk and clears it up to make the house look contemporary and saleable to more people.”

5. Know your sales method

There are a variety of ways to sell – auction, private auction (for registered bidders only), private sale, expressions of interest and sale by set date.

There are pros and cons to each method.

To decide which is right for you, check out sales in your surrounds and consult your agent.

6. Have realistic expectations

Make sure your price expectations are based on market research and talking to your agent.

---

Friends and family may have an opinion on what price your house will fetch on the market. But chances are their estimations are not as accurate as your agent’s.

“We had a vendor whose family and neighbours were telling them their house was going to sell for at least $100,000 higher than we advertised it,” Bronte says.

“And they got very caught up in what they were saying, so they rejected an early offer which ended up being $25,000 more than they ended up getting.”