How to increase the likelihood of a swift sale this spring

By The Beresfords Marketing Team - 15 April 2011

Once you’ve made the decision to take the plunge and place your property onto the market, the last thing you want to happen is have it sit there for a long period of time before it is sold. This becomes especially critical when you have your eyes firmly fixed on your new dream home. Therefore, if you are looking to sell your property as soon as possible, there are several things you can do to increase your chances this spring.

Make the property as attractive as possible from the road – at this time of year, people are more likely than ever to look at the outside before viewing. A couple of hanging baskets can work wonders!

Get the garden looking its best – a bit of hard work will pay dividends especially as gardens come into play more at this time of year with people taking the opportunity to view during the evening. A garden that needs lots of work will be obvious and may deter buyers, one that looks really neat and tidy will stand out from the crowd.

When people are viewing, ‘sell’ the benefits of your home’s location to potential buyers at this time of year. It may be a pleasant stroll across a park to the station, there could be lovely country pubs close by, the country park on the edge of town would be great for a family picnic. Remember you know your area better than anyone else!

Fresh flowers aren’t that expensive from supermarkets and add a ‘Spring’ touch to a home.

Make sure the property is aired, especially if you have pets. You may not notice the stale smell but buyers, especially those may not have a dog for example, will! This is the time of year where leaving the windows open doesn’t mean the family has to freeze.

Does the paintwork on the outside need freshening up? Unlike winter, people will linger in a garden at this time of year and the bare patches of paint on the render and window frames will be noticed. Similarly, pressure washing the patio or drive to spruce it up is worthwhile.