The business of buying and selling property is stressful for everyone involved. The buyers are stressed out because they have to find enough money for a deposit and charm their bank before they can realistically start looking for a new home. The estate agents are stressed by trying to keep everyone on the same page and happy (or at least, not too unhappy) while things move along. Then there’s the vendors – it might look like the vendors have it easy, but they do have duties and responsibilities to fulfil. Occasionally, however, vendors don’t hold up their side of the bargain, or they’re just way too enthusiastic and get in the way. This can cause a headache for everyone, especially the poor old estate agent.
Here are four habits to avoid if you want to make life easier for everyone, especially yourself.
Lurking around when someone’s viewing your property
There’s really no point in doing this if you don’t have to. In some areas of the UK, it’s more usual for vendors to show viewers around, but other areas it’s a strict no-no. For example, Canary Wharf estate agents recommend that vendors aren’t there, but in Manchester, it’s de rigueur for owners to do the showing and proffer tea and biscuits.
If you’re somewhere where this isn’t expected, don’t delude yourself by thinking you’re helping – you’re not. You’re in the way and your skulking means that the viewers can’t talk about how they’re going to undo all your hard design work as soon as they’re in.
Going on about your fancy appliances
Just because you have installed a new fridge-freezer with an ice machine, as well as a washing machine that sings to you when it’s finished doesn’t mean someone will buy your house! For a start, they might plan on bringing their own appliances along anyway, or they might not like your choice of colours. New carpets are great, but only worth a mention, as you never know, the buyer could be planning to rip them out and lay down a pourable vinyl floor instead. Upgrades grow old, both in real terms and as topics of conversation.
Not keeping up with the tidying
This is a real bugbear for many estate agents. You’ve had the photographer round and the online listing looks great, then the enthusiastic viewers bound in through the door and it looks like a bombsite. Don’t get lazy – you need to keep on top of the interiors, as photos are just the start. They get people through the door so that the agent can do the rest.
Forgetting to carry out the repairs you promised to do
If there are any repairs to be done, then get them out of the way before you go on the market if you can. Failing that, make sure they’re in progress, at least, so that they’re finished by the time contracts are exchanged and you don’t have to take a hit on the asking price. If you make a promise and don’t follow it through, you could lose your sale or face a steep bill.
