House Selling - Money Saving Tips

Marcus

Estate agents tend to advetise and incur the same costs regardless of how many properties they have on the market - within reason:) An agent would be stupid not to spend on maketing on a 1 week lockin property because the vendor, on spotting this, can go elsewhere. Thus they lose business - not likely.

Caroline. I would be careful with attempting to self sell and/or use internet marketing. The reason being is that a good professional estate agent will have years of experience of your local area - how to sell that area, schools, tax. They'll most likely already have hundreds of people looking in your area alone (I used to have several thousand and all of them having registered in the last 8 to 12 weeks!). They know the local solicitors. They'll know agents that will most likely have properties in your chain. They'll know the council!

And most important - a good agent will know how to properly track a sale, will be able to interpret reports with experience etc etc etc.

A good agent's worth its gold. But you should be able to get a bargain (first post) in the deal. And yes there are agents that are real stinkers (too many really) but you can weed these out.

I would personally only use internet services as an add on to using and agent. Especially if you have a weird and wonderful property.

Kindest Regards
Marcus

System

Layla

I'll write something up in the next few days for buyers - I'll put my thinking cap on:)

Looking forward to this one!

System

What an interesting thread!!! I have picked up a number of tips for when i sell my house.

carmoney5473

....
I would personally only use internet services as an add on to using and agent. Especially if you have a weird and wonderful property.

This is probably what I will be doing, Though I might put out the web ad a week or so earlier to find out how much interest if any, it generates! As I've some experience making websites I'll probably do a website for the house myself - with all the local detail that comes from having lived there. So the main point of the web ad will be to get people to my website, where there will be more photos and info than any other site is likely to allow.

In the past I've done things like floor plans and had them included with the agent's version of the details - I know these days some agents do these and they look far better than the ones I can produce. I consider these a big plus when buying so are one of the things I'm looking for when selling too.

My husband is taking against house details that tell you the make and model of showers without saying anything useful like whether its a power shower...

Anyone out there have anything they especially like or don't like in house details?

Our garden isn't level - there are plenty of families on our street who enjoy their terraced or sloping gardens but at the moment there seems to be a very strong fashion that says families need flat gardens.

Anyone have any suggestions for how to make my garden more family oriented? Would putting in a slide or climbing frame that uses the different terraces be worthwhile? I can't change the slope of the land but I might be able to change people's perception of it!

System

;D Brilliant Tips Guys!
I have just started to look into selling my house for the first time, and had two agents around at the weekend for the first valuation - Just a tad cheeky, but after they told me their fees - 1 & 1/2 %, I simply showed them your tips - Amazingly the fees dropped by 1/2% instantly!!!!
Cheers mate - thats about £800+VAT you just saved me!
Fancy a pint or two?
Dizzy

[Deleted User]

I've just put my house on the market yesterday after negotiating a 1.25% fee with Halifax!

One thing I have learned, from previously selling my flat, and waiting in for people who did not arrive etc... - let the agents do all the viewings and GO OUT!

I had my first viewing today and went out. I told the agent he had an hour - which means the buyers can take their time. Unfortunately these buyers decided it was not for them - but the agent left feedback on my answerphone. 3 things - all of it things I cannot change like moving the biggest bedroom to the rear of the house and suchlike.

I also viewed a property myself today. It was dirty inside and no effort had been made. despite that, I could see it had potential.

The problem is whether to make an offer or not - as I still need a buyer!

Marcus

Dizzylion - well done mate! That's great.
.m.

Marcus

Greetings ice

There's no reason not to make an offer if you want the property. The vendor will either reject or accept the offer. If they accept it it will be subject to you selling your own. And in the meantime they may still find another buyer and proceed with them instead.

The benefit in doing this is that it shows your interest. For the vendors is a significant moment - imagine if someone wanted to do the same with yours. And if they do get another offer the Agent will contact you and let you know first - incase you do have an offer on your own.

It's a good psychological move.

Regards
.m.

Oh! The vendor will also be more inclined to negotiate more strongly - even if your offer's rejected you can still go back to them once you're ready to proceed.
Hope this helps.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Marcus.

The offer has been accepted by the seller but, as you say, subject to me getting a buyer - - so they are keeping it on the market.

I was hoping that by putting in an offer of only £1k below the full asking price it might just keep the seller hungry enough to give me chance to sell mine. Especially as I've pointed out to their agent, faults with the roof!!

It's a nice place but I don't expect to end up with it so I'll not lose any sleep about it. If I do get it though, I'll be chuffed.

Pal

This is a great thread.