| 2 years ago when I bought my second property | | | | weekends, possibly your only free time, but |
| I crumbled to the seller's demands. Back then it | | | | remember it will be worth it in the end. If it takes |
| was a sellers market, in 4 out of 5 cases the | | | | too long to sell your house you could end up |
| buyer met the seller's asking price instantly. I tried | | | | loosing money. |
| offering 3 thousand pounds less then the asking | | | | Finish all outstanding DIY jobs. There's nothing |
| price but the buyer refused the offer point blank. | | | | worse than looking round a house thinking 'this |
| Rather than argue over 3 thousand pounds and | | | | needs a lot of work', especially off-putting if similar |
| possibly loose the house I loved, my next offer, | | | | fully re-decorated properties are available in the |
| the full asking price, was accepted. | | | | surrounding areas. It just looks like you don't care |
| Since then mortgage interest rates have almost | | | | about your house. |
| doubled, confidence in the property market has | | | | Be prepared. By this I mean all the legalities and |
| started to decline. | | | | paperwork. Get a solicitor lined up as soon as |
| Demand from buyers is dropping more and more | | | | possible and make sure everything is in place to, |
| homeowners are looking to sell up. This means | | | | hopefully, ensure a quick sale if you get the |
| the property market is fast becoming a buyer's | | | | opportunity. |
| market, and so lots of sellers are forced to | | | | Don't go crazy with your asking price. I've |
| reduce the asking price of their property. Only a | | | | recently actually phoned an estate agent out of |
| good thing if you are thinking of buying a house in | | | | curiosity because a bog standard 3 bed house in |
| the near future. | | | | my area was on the market for approximately |
| If you are selling a house there are a number of | | | | £80 thousand pounds more than the |
| things you can do to make sure your property | | | | average price in the area. I know it had been |
| gets the best possible sale price. | | | | recently re-furbished but £80 thousand |
| Firstly you should always have a tidy house | | | | pounds worth?! I don't think so…Get a |
| whenever there are viewings booked in. You have | | | | valuation from a few estate agents and check |
| no excuses to be honest. De-clutter and clean | | | | out your local areas average price online, there |
| everywhere, even before the photos are taken | | | | are plenty of web sites that offer this as a free |
| but especially and definitely before a potential | | | | service. |
| buyer books a viewing. | | | | Trying to sell your house right now is not going to |
| On the subject of viewings you should really try | | | | be easy. It may be best to wait until the |
| to make yourself available 24/7. If you get picky | | | | traditionally more buoyant market conditions of |
| about when potential buyers can view you could | | | | the spring. By early 2008 we should also have a |
| be turning down the opportunity of a quick sale or | | | | clearer understanding of how the credit crunch or |
| the possibility of selling at all. Remember most | | | | if the credit crunch is continuing to affect the UK |
| people work so you'll be looking at evenings and | | | | property market. |