Selling your property in 10 key steps
What support will an estate agent provide? When should I advertise my property? Comparis lists the most important preparatory steps.
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Selling a property requires a good deal of planning and preparatory work. In ideal circumstances, this is something that you shouldn't rush. Follow these 10 steps to get the selling process off to a successful start.
1. Set a date
If the move isn’t urgent, you should take your time in deciding when you want to sell your property.
There are countless recommendations on the best and worst times to sell. In general, there is no wrong time to sell a property or advertise it on the market. It is entirely your decision to make.
2. Two months before advertising: research the local market
Comparis brings together listings from the biggest property websites in Switzerland. In collaboration with pricehubble.com, we have created a tool that you can use to determine a ballpark asking price.
If possible, visit a few houses and apartments for sale in your area. This will give you a sense of what sort of price level you should consider.
3. Six weeks before advertising: hire an estate agent
Do you plan to sell your home with an estate agent? If so, you should start your enquiries now. Don't just pick someone who happened to send you a flyer once. Ask your friends and family for recommendations and read estate agent reviews carefully.
4. Prepare your home
Make sure to showcase your home at its best. Paint (or at least clean) the inner walls and repair functional items of furniture that could make a negative impression on a potential buyer. Now isn’t the time to fit a completely new kitchen. However, it won’t take a lot of work to fix a broken handle or a cupboard door that won't shut properly.
5. Two to three weeks before advertising: provide a financial overview
Get a statement of your mortgage. In order to estimate the profit from the sale, you will need to know what debt is outstanding as well as the amount of any early repayment charge.
Discuss your plans with your neighbours. Not only is it courteous to warn them of your move, your neighbours may also help spread the word about your home being on the market. They may have friends on the hunt for a property who already know and like the neighbourhood. This way, you will already have some external help with marketing your property.
6. Continue tidying and decluttering
Your estate agent will probably advise you on the presentation (or “staging”) of your home. If you aren’t using an estate agent, remember that your property should resemble a show home as far as possible. Remove personal items. Ensure that furniture is sensibly positioned in the room. Upon entering a room, a potential buyer should be able imagine how they could use it.
7. One week before advertising: prepare to market your home
Once you’ve finished the presentation work, it's time to take some photos. If you have instructed an estate agent, they will either take the photos themselves or hire a professional photographer. There should now be no mess anywhere, and blinds and curtains should be open. The pictures should be so good that you start second-guessing your decision to move out. However, don’t use Photoshop to correct any cosmetic problems. The lack of authenticity may well irritate buyers.
Your estate agent should help produce an appealing, accurate and positive description of your house or apartment. Remember what aspects of the property you fell in love with when you bought it, or at least what you especially liked about it.
8. Put your property on the market with listings
Make sure that your estate agent advertises your property on the most popular websites, so that you reach as many potential buyers as possible. Once the property is listed, the estate agent may also put up a sign outside your house and print flyers featuring photos and a description. If you are not using an estate agent, you will have to do this work yourself.
9. Keep your home clean and tidy at all times
Even if you insist on having an appropriate amount of time to prepare for viewings, there is a high chance you will have to handle short-notice viewings at some point. Be ready and waiting with a sparkling home, even if there are no viewings scheduled. Assume that a prospective buyer will call when you least expect it.
10. Be prepared to lower your price
If you are working with an estate agent, you should receive some feedback after each viewing. If the market is very competitive and prospective buyers are few and far between, it may be appropriate to reduce your price early on. Think of it this way: the sooner you sell, the higher the price can be. Your estate agent will help you set the right price.