Over the years I have had this question asked of me on numerous occasions. The answer is always the same “Now.” The reality is there is never the perfect month or time. All seasons portray your home differently and in many cases better in the cooler autumn or winter months. Yet we all know that the preference for most of us is in spring or early summer because that’s when your property looks at its best. Unfortunately, so does everyone elses, and the number of properties that come in to the market over this period clutter the market with competition for buyers at its peak. So the next question to ask is: How can I beat the competition and get multiple offers on my home? The best advice I can give any prospective seller is don’t over think the process, let the agent you choose do the work for you. Your job is to present your home in an inviting way:
When presenting your home, play to the weather, it tends to be the topic of most conversations, so why not present your home to fit the forecast? On hot days, feature the outdoor living with your umbrella up, BBQ furniture arranged plus with lawns mown and garden groomed. On cooler days, the home needs to be warm and inviting throughout, not just the living areas with a heat pump or wood burner on. Play some music in the background and light some scented candles, this can create a cosy inviting atmosphere where your potential buyers might not want to leave. Be sure no matter what season you sell, your home is clean, smelling fresh with all clutter tucked away. A well maintained clean and tidy home will always outsell in value a home that is untidy and poorly kept even if the quality is better. During the sale process, your involvement only needs to be the presentation and the availability, your agent will do the rest. The sale price of a property is not dependent on the time of year but the value seen in the property. For example, a vacant home we will achieve a quicker sale and premium if the home is furnished or staged rather than empty of furniture and décor. Most buyers aren’t interior decorators and would prefer to have an idea as to how it could look, or how their furniture could look, rather than a bare space. Then there’s price, it’s imperative you listen to what the market is saying and what is selling around you. Your agent should always be informing you of market developments and should always be prepared to help you understand the current market sale conditions. Our agents work in the market every day of the week so will have an in-depth level of knowledge of the market. Select the agent that knows the market and what they are doing, not the agent that offers the highest estimated value or the cheapest commission, it doesn’t work. So, when is a good time to sell? The answer comes back to you and how motivated you are to achieve the very best result. We will always strive for the very best price for our vendors. However it’s a partnership where your presentation and support can work miracles if done in conjunction with a well-balanced marketing plan and strategy. This partnership, if done correctly can add thousands to the homes final sale price. First Home Buyers So often I talk to young adults who are caught in the rental trap with no real passion or desire to take the first step into the property market. "Why," is usually my next question? Are they scared of the commitment to a mortgage? A landlord will put just as many demands on a tenant as a bank. Perhaps there is a lack of will to save? A property purchase automatically builds equity as time goes on, or is it just a case of they don’t have the desire to secure their future. Over the last twelve months, in what has been a fairly flat market, we have experienced a 3.2% growth on Canterbury homes. If you take an average home valued at $450,000 that equates to a growth in capital value of just under $15,000 which is about the same as a years rent that would never be seen again. Sure you are committed to your mortgage and there are other responsibilities and costs that come with the investment. Costs such as rates, insurance and maintenance which would have been the landlords costs and worry, but there is no debate that the easiest way to accumulate wealth in our wonderful country is through property. The options available to first home buyers, I personally feel, is as good and flexible as ever, with the correct advice and guidance we should be encouraging our friends and family members to take advantage of this very stable market we are currently in. There are some extremely good buys in the outer suburban areas only a 10-25 minute commute from the centre of Christchurch that offer real value. The fact that many want the buzz of the inner central suburbs is unrealistic because the reality is that many of these areas are now premium locations. Many of these premium located homes for sale in the city are competitively purchased with competition pushing the values above many first home buyers’ budgets. The actual properties in many cases are no where near the same quality that could be purchased in the fringe suburbs of the city. Wherever you decide to purchase, remember, you are never to young or old to buy your first home. I know personally the pride and rewards of owning property and believe me it is worth every cent and effort. Another week flies by and we are half way through 2015, where are the days going? It’s been interesting reading the headlines in the news over the last fortnight and to feel the sudden change in economic climate that has very quickly been painted by the media. Greece’s financial woe’s, Fontera’s sliding milk powder values and now the falling confidence in Canterbury’s business sector. Well I’m afraid we have heard these negative comments before and although they are all very real ,business and our lives do move on and we continue to achieve business and personal goals. The months are cooler yet our real estate activity throughout our five offices has continued to achieve solid results. Sure, bare land subdivisions are becoming effected by an apparent glut, with spec and new builds. Yet, the general public are still upgrading, down sizing and entering the market for the first time, with values generally holding with little growth at the present time. Then consider the very competitive interest rates that are available and the high level of local employment, all looks pretty good for plenty of real estate activity throughout the balance of 2015. In fact, we have a shortage of good available homes to sell with many buyers keen to find their next home or investment. Auctions Auctions continue to produce the best results with another great week with two out of two selling. In the coming weeks we have another 10 properties to be auctioned and with a clearance rate of over 80% auctions still remains the most proactive marketing method to sell any home. Rural Lifestyle There’s still a big demand for lifestyle properties of all sizes and quality. Sellers don’t miss the opportunity to talk to one of our experience and dedicated lifestyle sales team members for the best advice and results. We have many buyers waiting for the right home. “We Sell Rural Lifestyle” our coffee table magazine is due out at the end of July so if you are selling or on the market with one of our team you need to be included, it’s an introduction to thousands of buyers throughout Canterbury. |
James Twiss
Licensed Business Owner of Harcourts Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd Greg Roberts
Licensed Business Owner of Harcourts Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd Archives
September 2020
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