What to consider when selling your home Rachel Fechner
With the sale of what might be your biggest asset, selling a home may seem like a stressful, complicated and mystifying process. But it doesn’t have to be. With honest advice from the right agent, a personalised approach tailored to your situation, as well as a clear plan, selling your home can be a straightforward and rewarding experience. There are many things to consider along the way, and this guide will get you thinking about all the steps involved in selling your home.
#1 Making the decision to sell Why do you want or need to sell your home? It’s important to determine your motivation; do you need more space for a new baby or the in laws? Or have the kids left home and you need to downsize? Have you already purchased another property and need to sell your current residence? Are you under financial pressure? Do you need to relocate to another suburb, town or state for the kids’ school, to be closer to aging parents or for a new job? Your reason for selling will help determine the agent you choose and their strategy for sale. I have experience dealing with a wide range of sellers in every stage of life, so I’d be happy to meet you and discuss your personal situation.
#2 Choosing the right agent There are many real estate agents willing to sell your home, so how do you select the right one? Experience, professional standing and the ability to build personal rapport are some of the qualities you can expect from a top agent. I make sure any potential clients know that I have over 23 years’ experience in sales, project management and solution selling. While I’m passionate with an abundance of determination, I genuinely care about people and thoroughly enjoy building long-term relationships. I’ve also been on the other side of the real estate equation as a vendor, having to sell my own home and property that I developed in Hawthorne. Armed with all this knowledge and experience, I am able to provide reliable and transparent advice.
#3 Cost of selling Being able to get the best price for your home comes at a cost. Make sure the agent outlines all the costs involved, including commission, advertising, marketing, photography, valuation, building and pest inspections and investment taxes. It’s best to know all these costs up front, and how they are to be paid, before you start. I ensure that not only do my vendors know what costs are involved, but what purpose they have and what benefit they will bring to the campaign.
#4 P ricing considerations – location and appearance of home An honest agent will help you understand a realistic expectation of the price of your home. When estimating a potential selling price, an agent will look at comparable sales in the area, recent market activity and how the home physically presents to a prospective buyer. Location can play a big role in a home’s price both in a positive and negative way, from a train station nearby or a particularly sought-after school. I endeavour to provide vendors with information about all factors affecting the expected sale price, as well as what we can do to maximise it.
#5 Method of sale There are four main ways to sell, either by private treaty/for sale, at auction, by tender/ expression of interest, or off the market. Which method you choose will depend on the time frame you have available, the local market conditions and level of confidentiality you require. I can outline the benefits and drawbacks of each method of sale, to help you choose the right one for your situation.
#6 Getting home ready for sale In order to maximise the chances of achieving your selling price, a home needs to be presented in the best possible light. First impressions count, so from the streetfront to the backyard, a property needs to be visually appealing to a potential buyer so that they can imagine themselves living in your home. A diligent agent will provide honest advice about what you can do to improve the appearance of your home, for example choosing the most popular shade of fresh paint, the type of plants in the garden or the style of soft furnishings through the interiors. In some cases, professional staging and styling services can be used to give a property an edge over others in the market. As an agent, I know what buyers are looking for in a home, so let me help you present your property in a way which will appeal to them.
#7 Marketing strategy Formulating a tailored marketing strategy is essential to reaching as many buyers as possible and making sure your home stands out from the rest. Identifying the target market is the first step, then communicating the key selling features in all advertising material. McGrath uses a team of real estate marketing professionals to ensure high quality photography, floorplan and copywriting so that your home is showcased at an optimum level. I adopt an active approach to marketing, which could mean anything from phoning neighbours or pushing a print advertising run across the eastern seaboard - whatever it takes to capture the right buyers for your home and achieve a premium price.
Rachel Fechner
Bolstered by McGrath’s brand of six star customer service, what sets Rachel Fechner apart is her commitment to building long-term relationships with her clients. If you are seeking honest and transparent advice, as well as someone to craft a personalised solution to achieve your property goals, call Rachel Fechner today.
Testimonials “We purchased our property through Rachel and her attention to detail was spot on, with excellent follow up and care. We definitely recommend Rachel. You know you will get 100% effort and you won’t feel like you were just another transaction. ” - Susan and Martin, Bulimba
“Rachel was enthusiastic, positive and always available when we needed which made the process a relaxed and enjoyable one. I was very happy with the outcome and will be sure to recommend Rachel to any of our friends and family when buying or selling property. ” - Michael, Hawthorne
Rachel Fechner 0408 117 299 rachelfechner@mcgrath.com.au