| During this credit crunch time, "I want to sell my | | | | going to be proactive in selling your house. He or |
| house" is the cry of many a householder for | | | | she will need to be looking for people who want |
| various reasons. Whether your wanting to move | | | | to buy houses like yours, and this will mean you |
| to a bigger, or smaller house, if you're relocating, | | | | discussing your requirements with them. If the |
| or if you have mortgage arrears that are spiraling | | | | estate agent knows what you need to achieve, |
| our of control, selling your house is going to be a | | | | he can try to find buyers that meet that criteria. |
| major part of seeing your goal realized. | | | | 4. Make your house presentable! First impressions |
| Having spoken with a number of estate agents | | | | are key to a succesful house sale. You may need |
| and property buyers, including estate agents in | | | | to spend some money in making your house |
| London, here are the main points you want to | | | | "look nice" for a potential buyer, but you should |
| consider when its time to sell your house: | | | | certainly make the effort in terms of "elbow |
| 1. Determine where you want to go. What's | | | | grease". This will include giving some areas a lick |
| you're ultimate goal in selling the house? What will | | | | of paint to make areas more clean looking, |
| you achieve by selling the house? It always helps | | | | decluttering flat surfaces like shelves and |
| to write this down and have it in a prominent | | | | cupboards, and ensuring that each room has an |
| position in your home, so you are reminded of | | | | air of spaciousness about it. Give high priority to |
| your goal. Determining what this goal is will also | | | | your front garden or balcony, if you have one. |
| help you decide how much you need from the | | | | Even before a prospective buyer sets foot over |
| house sale to achieve your goal. "Sell my house | | | | the threshold of you door, they will have made a |
| for the highest price I can get " is not really a | | | | buying decision based on the impression given at |
| goal because even if you get the highest price for | | | | the front of your property. Probably the best |
| the property, will that help you achieve your goal? | | | | way to prepare is to go around the house, |
| How much do you really need from the sale of | | | | making a list of all the things that would turn you |
| the house? | | | | off buying the house. Then plan for a seven to |
| 2. Get your house valued. This will help you | | | | ten day clean up, dealing with all the areas that |
| determine How much you can reasonably expect | | | | you can manage. This will make a significant |
| from the sale of your house in the current | | | | improvement on your ability to sell your house, |
| climate. In this current "credit crunch" environment | | | | and the price that you will get for it. |
| get 4 maybe even 5 estate agent valuations. This | | | | 5. No Offer is a silly Offer! Even if the offer is |
| is because house values can fluctuate with each | | | | below market value, once it actually meets your |
| agent, so you want to get a good idea of the | | | | own criteria in terms of what you need, then |
| average price you can expect to sell at. Do your | | | | you're a winner! Unfortunately, the market is |
| own research by talking to your neighours, either | | | | shrinking all the time, and so are property prices |
| those who are selling, or those who have moved | | | | with it. This means, If you know what you need |
| into your immediate area, and ask them what | | | | from the sale of your house, and you achieve it, |
| value was placed on their house. | | | | then you are in a better position than some who |
| 3. Determine the right estate agent to work with. | | | | are holding out for as much as they can get, yet |
| You need to work with an estate agent who is | | | | seeing that amount dwindle away on a daily basis. |