Team Talk Volume 13 | Page 37

PROPERTY TALK 37 For the Seller So, you have decided to go to market, because you want to upgrade your home and lifestyle and you simply cannot do it with the property your in at the moment. You interviewed your agent and appointed them—now what? PROPERTY STAGING: Property staging is a lot simpler than people think. It is simply a case of doing maintenance, fixing the broken things and ensuring a fresh coat of paint where needed. Bright and eccen- tric colours may be your personal favourite, but the truth is that the feature wall that you and your wife could never agree could be a feature killer. The reason being is that most people struggle to see past these colours and remain a distraction instead of adding value . So neutralize the colour palate. PHOTO-SHOOT: On the day of the photo-shoot … allow the property to be its absolute best. Bring light into as many rooms as possible. Put away all your personal items in the bathroom and pack everything away that normally remain on the countertop in the kitchen. Throws and scatter cushions over couches and beds go a long way to present the property well. KNOW YOUR MARKET: Recent results in property sales indicate a large group in the two age categories of 36-49 and 50-64. In most cases the 36-49 will be family based people with children needing more space. They will be targeting 3-4 bedroom homes in areas closer to schools and with access to transport routes. The latter 50-64 will be people wanting to slightly downscale and will look at 2-3 beds with a particular focus on Townhouses in Port Elizabeth. This means that you should position your property according to the clients you wish to attract. This will allow the agent to effectively match your property to the most suitable buyer. Normally the location and number of bedrooms should indicate your target market. With some minor preparations from your side and an effective agent; you should achieve a sale price within 5% of asking and walk away with a handsome profit and a big smile. For more advice on property options and the due process of buying, selling and investing… Marc van Heerden Cell: 073 198 9369 Tel: 041 360 0365 [email protected] www.sothebysrealty.co.za 37