If you’re thinking of selling your property, the first step is to know what it is likely to sell for. With most estate agents offering a free, pre-sale appraisal service (know as a ‘valuation’), we would recommend that you get a professional estimate of what your property is worth. If you are thinking of selling, here are 9 things to do to help you to get the most out of your valuation.
1. Do your Research
Before any agent visits the property to carry out the valuation, do a bit of investigative work. Websites like Zoopla and Rightmove allow you to search for the sale prices of properties that recently sold in your area and will give you a rough idea of what your property might sell for.
2. Shop Around
We’d recommend getting a few valuations before you choose your estate agent. However, it’s tempting for estate agents to ‘buy’ your custom by over-valuing in the hope it will turn your head. So make sure that they justify their valuation. If you have done your own research, it’s easier to spot if someone is over-valuing. Choose the estate agent whom you trust: someone who is active in the local market, who provides good value for money and, above all, someone with a good track-record for selling properties quickly at a great price.
3. Clean Up and Clutter Out!
A good old-fashioned spring clean can make the world of difference to the appearance of your property. Tidying and getting rid of unwanted clutter allows a valuer to see the full extent of the property and will give them the best impression of what your property might be worth.
4. Don’t Forget the Exterior of the Property
It is easy to neglect the outside areas of your property but they are often the first impression that a potential buyer will get of your property. Keep outside areas clean and tidy for the best valuation.
5. Preparation is Key
Compose a list of questions that you want to ask the estate agent’s valuer before they visit your property. If you have made any alterations or improvements to the property, let the valuer know what you have done. Valuers will, amongst other things, look at the historical price that you bought the property for, so knowing what has been done to improve the property since then will help them to put an exact value on your property.
6. Get to the Bottom Line
Estate agents all charge differing amounts, though not always because they actually do more for you! So ensure that you get confirmation of exactly what your agent will do to market your property, how that marketing package increases your exposure to potential buyers and ask for a written explanation of all of the costs of selling. This allows you to compare like-with-like and to pick the best estate agent for you.
7. How to Show Your Property
Allow the valuer to have a good look around the property. You don’t need to ‘sell’ the property to the valuer: they are trying to take an objective view of what your property will sell for on the open market. Try to save any questions you have until the end of the valuation: the agent may well have answered most of these before you get around to it!
8. Allow Enough Time
Try and give yourself about an hour of uninterrupted time for each valuation meeting. Every agent is different and you want to make sure that you have covered all bases before you take the plunge!
9. Be Realistic
Everyone wants the highest possible valuation for their property. It is the valuer’s job to give you the most accurate estimate of what they think your property is worth on the open market, in current market conditions. If you do not agree with the valuation, ask the agent to explain their rationale: they should be able to offer comparable data to justify this.
If you are thinking of selling and would like more information, a quote or to arrange a free valuation of your property, contact us today at [email protected] or call us on 0345 646 0208 and one of our friendly, experienced valuers will be delighted to talk you through how MOV8 can help you to get the best possible result from your sale.
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