Ask an expert: How to sell your property fast?

Article by Independent.ie

The Independent.ie published recently an interview with Edel McGuinness. She founded her business, EMG Property Consultants, at the height of the recession in 2011, when she was only 24 years-old. Since then it’s gone from strength to strength. Today, EMG Property Consultants, located in Balbriggan, North County Dublin, specialise in the housing sector both in sales and lettings. They also manage property on behalf of landlords, undertake valuations, provide consultancy advice to their clients and much more.
Edel shares her top tips for selling property fast. So, if you’re selling your home or you’re a landlord looking to get out of the renting game keep reading.
1. Have the property in good order.
Before you decide to put your property on the market, you need to make sure that it is in good working order. That means checking things like heating and electrics. If anything needs to be repaired, do it before you put your property on the market. “Some landlords worry that it will cost a lot of money and they won’t be able afford it but you could do it on a tight budget,” explains Edel. “Have your property presented in good order. If you can afford to have it staged, do, as it does work.”
2. Consider staging.
Staging has been a hot topic in property circles over the last year or so. Basically, it’s all about making your property as aesthetically pleasing as possible. When it comes to staging there are two routes that you can go down. You can do it yourself or bring in a professional. If you decide to do it alone, you don’t need to spend vast amounts of money to make your home more appealing. Edel recommends adding a few simple touches. “Even something as simple as a bunch of flowers on the dining room table can make such a difference,” she explains. “Cushions are also important. Pictures on the wall should have some colour in them. Neutral colours make things very bland looking.” However, if you want to pull out all the stops and hire a professional stager the sky really is the limit on what you can change or upgrade. “They can do everything from your garden to clearing your attic,” she explains. They can provide furniture such as kitchen tables and chairs and living room suites. They also provide things like pictures and mirrors, garden furniture and flower pots, obviously all at a cost. It really makes a difference. We have done it a few times and the properties were sale agreed very quickly.” “It’s a new concept out there but a lot of people are buying into it. It does work in the long run. It’s nicer than going into a blank canvas, that’s not very appealing.”
3. Get good photographs.
When you advertise your property online, the first thing that people are going to do is look at the photographs. In order to make a good impression, you need to make sure that you have some slick, clear photos of your property. EMG Property Consultants work with a professional photographer to get the right images. Edel believes that you can not overestimate the importance of high res photos.
“We would always use a photographer,” she explains. “They look so much better, especially the colour and the quality. We organise a photographer as they look a lot better than the pictures people take themselves. ”When taking your photos it always helps to include some bright colours that will capture people’s attention. “Bright colours on the walls or soft furnishings can make a picture pop,” states Edel. “Soft furnishings that are colourful work really well against bland coloured walls.”
4. Aim for a vacant procession.
If you’re selling a rented property, you need to consider the tenants that currently live there. If you can, try to sell at the end of the lease. Edel believes that it’s easier to sell a vacant property for three reasons. “If you want to stage the property it needs to be vacant so the furniture and furnishings don’t move. It needs to look perfect for viewings,” she explains. “In terms of gaining access, it’s easier when it’s vacant because it means you can show the property at minimal notice as opposed to giving tenants notice that you need to view it at a certain time or date.” “Finally, if you have difficult tenants it can be hard to gain access. I would recommend having vacant procession but it’s not always possible. “Some landlords don’t want to lose out on money by leaving it vacant but it’s better for staging. In the long run it will sell quicker if it’s vacant. Some people can be put off by tenants insitu when they view properties. They might be wondering when their notice period expires or when they will move out”.
5.Hire a good property consultant.
If you’re looking to sell your property you need to make sure that you hire a trusted property consultant. They help with every stage of the process from creating the initial listing to helping you close your deal.” Aim for a vacant procession. “90pc of our business comes from referrals. I am very open and honest with people therefore I have been able to build my reputation in the County Dublin area.”