Selling Guide
Selling your property is an exciting time and here at PRD we understand your property is important to you. You need the support and understanding of a professional real estate agent where local market knowledge makes all the difference. It’s all about the ability to spot the unique benefits of your home and see the opportunities that enable us to help you prepare and market your house to reach the best returns for you.
The Market Appraisal
Once you have decided to sell, the next step is to seek a market appraisal from PRD. This information will help determine a likely price range of your property. Your agent’s experience in your local area will give you sound advice as to where your property sits in the market.
Appraisal Request
The role of the Real Estate Agent
The role of your PRD agent is to sell your property at the best price in the shortest time frame, with minimum inconvenience to you.
PRD agents work in your interests, providing services such as:
- Advice on the likely selling price of your property.
- Advertising your property to the most likely buyers.
- Attracting buyers to inspect, become serious and make an offer.
- Negotiating the selling price between yourself and buyers.
- Facilitating the actual sale and legal steps involved in selling.
Setting the price or reserve of your property
Setting the price is one of the most important decisions you have to make when selling your property. Features such as location, size, age and unique attributes will help determine the figure, as will checking sales prices on similar properties in your area. Here at PRD we pride ourselves on being the local area experts, who can provide all kinds of property information such as average property prices, demographics, sales activity and rental returns.
Marketing your property
When selling a property, your PRD agent will advise you on the best way to market your property to ensure thorough and memorable exposure over the allocated period, reaching as many people as possible. We work with our in-house marketing and graphic design team to develop a marketing plan best suited to your property and your needs.
Property Styling & Staging
Inspection day tips and last minute touches
People often use fresh flowers, brewed coffee and baked bread to generate interest and emotion in prospective buyers. Be sure to utilise these tools if you feel that adding such finishing touches will add value at your open inspection.
Arrange for pets such as cats and dogs to be off-site on inspection days. Potential buyers could be allergic or more often frightened of the family pet lazing in the back yard.
Last minute tasks like storing toys, tidying bedrooms, clearing dishes and removing washing from the clothesline creates space and the sense of cleanliness.
Your agent will arrive before the inspection to collect keys and have a final once-over of your property before showing buyers through. It’s best for you to leave during inspection time — buyers might be put off knowing the owner is nearby. Take the time to go for a walk or enjoy a coffee in celebration of your hard work.
When you return, your agent will provide an overview of how many groups attended your inspection, and which parties expressed a keen interest in your property. The negotiation process will begin when interested parties make an offer, and all your efforts in preparing your property for sale will come to fruition.
Negotiating and accepting an offer
Your PRD agent will facilitate all aspects of the negotiation process. They will present all offers in writing, leaving you with the option to accept, or provide a counteroffer. If the buyer does not accept your counteroffer, they have the right to withdraw their original offer. When deciding on an offer, you should also consider settlement date, suitability of deposit and whether terms/finance are arranged. Your agent will be able to provide advice on such considerations.
- Private Treaty
Once you have reached an agreed selling price with the buyer, you need to sign the contract. The buyer pays a deposit, usually 10%, with the balance paid on settlement date. - Auction
With auctions, there is no cooling off period. The deposit is paid and contract signed on the fall on the hammer. After, the contract is unconditional, it is a legally binding contract and the process of transfer can begin. A solicitor or conveyancer will usually handle the transfer with stamp duty (if applicable) being paid by the buyer. - Settlement Day
On settlement day, the keys are handed over to the buyer and the property becomes their responsibility, thus it is important to note that until settlement day, you are responsible for insurance etc.