Strategies for selling your home in a tight market

Was it just a year or two ago that homes going up for sale had queues at the door of each exhibition; that agents of properties for auction were besieged with desperate buyers trying to close the deal ahead of the scheduled date? How times have changed.

 Now if any serious buyers appear at exhibitions they are more likely to be presenting a list of non-negotiable demands – a pick of the crop supplied by an agent: that the lawn be re-laid with Astroturf to save the trouble of mowing.

 Other reasons for rejection include bad feng shui or simply that “the vibes don’t feel right” further demonstrations, if any are needed, that in the foreseeable future buyers are going to be sitting firmly in the box seat.

  Feng shui, bad vibes and Astroturf aside, what are the more common reasons for choosy buyers passing over a home, and can anything be done to rectify them?

 One of the most frequently heard complaints is lack of parking space. This is particularly the case with many inner city properties where parking is often restricted to the street. Further out in the suburbs single and even double garages are often considered to be insufficient especially for families where both parents work and/or with adult children still living at home.

 The answer is to make the best use of the space available without turning your block into an asphalt jungle. Car ports can be designed to look less intrusive than garages; accommodation for cars parked one behind another is better than no accommodation at all.

 We often think bigger is better, but some homes are just too big. While there will always be a market for the larger property, the overall trend is towards smaller families or groups. Converting part of the accommodation to a separate self-contained flat is a possibility or, if the block is big enough, redeveloping it into a dual occupancy. However, these are major projects and will require a detailed planning process involving your local authority.

 If you are looking at ways of improving your home for sale why not consult an HIA builder or home designer? You may be surprised at the range of options available.

Need a tradesperson? Find an HIA professional convenient to you at tradebuild.com.au