Staying safe

BY BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za

Experts offer tips on how to protect yourself and your possessions when letting strangers in to view your home if you are selling it

Q: OUR FAMILY is emigrating and my husband has already left, leaving me to sell our home here. I am working with an estate agent but, as a single woman, I already feel vulnerable. How can I manage the home sale and potential show days as safely as possible?

A: It is important to remember that there is safety in numbers and a good place to start is to have someone on duty with you to manage events on show days. It gives you the ease of knowing that no visitors or prospective buyers are wandering through the home unmonitored and that someone can assist if something goes wrong.

Estate agents need to be security conscious and need to discuss the option of putting security systems in place before a show day. This is not only to protect the sellers’ valuables and property but to ensure the agents are safe as well.

Posting a guard on the premises is also a good idea.

While you cannot plan for every eventuality, this advice will help to discourage thieves from taking advantage of the situation:

• If there is a panic button, ensure that the agent has access to it, along with your private security service provider’s emergency number.

• Alert your private security service provider that your home will be on show and ask them to stop by to check that everything is in order.

• Do not leave spare keys for the home (for back, garage or patio doors) hanging on hooks that can be reached.

• Always lock away valuables that can easily fit into a handbag or pocket.

• Put away larger items of equipment that are not instrumental in showing off your home to stop criminals thinking they might return later when no one is home.

• Open curtains and blinds or switch on lights in each room to discourage would-be thieves from untoward activity. – Charnel Hattingh, head of marketing and communications at Fidelity ADT

Q: We are first-time home sellers and looking for the right agency and agents to help us sell. However, we are in a hurry, so want to get the right people for a quick, but good, sale. What should we look for?

A: Potential sellers should make sure that their chosen agent ticks the following boxes which prove they have a high hit-rate – defined as the percentage of successful sales compared to the number of attempts.

Number of “sold” boards:

See how many “sold” boards are up in the area, not just “for sale” boards. If an agent is successful, they will be converting for sale properties into sold properties.

Active property portfolio:

Choose an agent with an active portfolio of properties being marketed. Availability of stock is important as the number and quality of properties an agent has will attract a range of buyers.

Dynamic social media presence:

Visibility is key, so select an agent who has an effective marketing machine behind them. When researching agents in your area, look for someone with a dynamic social media presence, where properties are being actively marketed and shared by the agent and the brand they represent across a variety of platforms. – Ashe Thaver, property consultant at Jawitz Properties

Q: My parents are selling their home and I would like to help them avoid making costly mistakes. What advice can I give them?

A: Several mistakes can be easily avoided, if one is aware of them. I strongly recommend that every seller’s first step is to partner with a real estate professional. As experts in their local suburb, agents can share tips and tricks, so sellers avoid making expensive mistakes when listing their home.

• Do not avoid necessary repairs in the hope of closing the sale before anyone notices. These are almost always identified during the home inspection process and it will likely halt the sale until the problem is repaired – or an agreement can be reached.

• Ensure that you prepare the home for viewing by decluttering and putting away personal items. Buyers are better able to envision themselves in a depersonalised space. By putting away clutter, rooms should also appear larger, which could also lead to higher offers being made on the home.

• Have a professional photographer take photos of your home as these days the home buying process begins online. Listing photos can make all the difference when attracting buyers.

• Don’t set your price to leave room for negotiation. This often just leads to buyers overlooking the home as it falls outside their price point. Sometimes, setting a price that is disproportionate to the value of the property means that the home will sit on the market for longer.

• Be aware of the costs associated with the transfer and registration process, moving expenses, and agent commissions that will need to be paid. – Adrian Goslett, chief executive of Re/Max of Southern Africa

Q: How do agents decide on the selling price of your home?

A: Each area and property is different. A local area agent will do a thorough assessment based on various factors.

These include:

• Assessment of sales over the past three to six months to gauge what buyers are paying.

• The location of the property. If it is in a popular location, the price would be in the upper percentile compared to a less favourable location which might put it in the lower percentile when looking at the range of prices achieved in the area.

• Valuing the property in terms of its age, size and condition. The better the condition, the higher the price. Features such as security, safe parking, a swimming pool and neat garden are value-adding factors. Excessive bedrooms and features might, however, not add to the price.

• Trends in the area also affect the price of a home. While deterioration will be a drawback, development can add a premium to the price.

• Stock levels are also considered. If there is an oversupply, sellers face stiffer competition and prices come under pressure. If there is a shortage, sellers can usually expect higher prices. – Samuel Seeff, chairperson of the Seeff Property Group

When selling, get a professional to take photos of your home as good pictures can make all the difference when attracting buyers. PICTURE: ANNA LISA/PIXABAY