How Long Will It Take To Sell My House?

If we had a pound for every time we are asked this question, we’d be sitting on a beach somewhere sipping cocktails! 

It’s a tricky question to answer as it depends on so many variables:  location, the condition of your home, local demand and sometimes even down to sheer luck (right place…right time!).

The fact is there are homes that sell within a few days of going on to the market and those that sadly stay unsold for months or in some cases, years.  The good news is that there are things you can do to ensure your home has the best chance of selling within the timeframe you need, and for the price you want.

Recently we went to see a client in Oxfordshire whose home had been on the market for three long years – with three different agents, no less!  Unsurprisingly, they were disillusioned, downbeat and on the verge of throwing in the towel.  According to every agent they had used, the price was the problem, so they reduced and reduced it again, but to no avail.  I’m sure you can understand their total and utter frustration.

Luckily, they gave us a call.  When we went to visit them at their home we soon discovered there were many things preventing their home from selling, and it definitely wasn’t just the price.  We looked carefully at how their home was being marketed and, after casting a critical eye over their brochure, photos and property description, we soon realised there was plenty of room for improvement.

Their house was gorgeous, but had been on the market for so long that it was becoming ‘stale’.  A premium home in Oxfordshire takes 166 days to sell on average, so why wasn’t this one selling?  Premium homes are, by nature, unique – but the elements that make it unique are sometimes the elements that make it more difficult to sell.

It only takes one buyer to fall in love with your home, but how does a potential buyer even begin to compare two very different and unique properties?  That’s where bespoke marketing comes in.  A special home needs special marketing to make it stand out from the competition and attract the right buyer.

After identifying the issues with this particular home, we came up with a relaunch plan to ensure that this time, the home got the attention it deserved:

• We appointed a home stylist to present the home at its very best and provide some beautiful finishing touches, making it look straight out of the pages of Country Life

• We priced the home correctly using  the ‘Three Zero Strategy’ (read more here) to ensure the home was seen online by the widest possible audience

• We instructed a professional property photographer to create stunning new photos including lifestyle, drone and twilight photography

• We created a completely bespoke, 24 page, magazine-style brochure

• We instructed a production company to create a tantalising video of the home, set to music

With these extra bespoke touches, the home really stood out on Rightmove and the other online portals.  We’re extremely pleased to report that the homeowners received an offer just a whisker under the asking price within three weeks.

There are always reasons why a home isn’t selling and there are always things that can be improved upon.  Getting your marketing strategy right the first time will give your property the edge and give you the best chance of selling.

Our Top Tips:

Choose an Agent Based on their Marketing Skills

Will your agent of choice price correctly, use a professional home stylist, provide top-notch photos, videos and glossy, magazine-style brochures?  Most house hunters begin their search on portals like Rightmove and Zoopla so it’s crucial that your home looks fabulous and stands out from the competition.

Be Realistic on Price

Be realistic on valuations.  If your type of property is unusual in your area you may be able to sell for a premium; if there are lots of similar properties nearby you may have to lower your expectations for a higher asking price.

Beware of overvaluations!  It’s an estate agent’s job to find the best price for your home.  However, there can be huge discrepancies between agents and their idea of the ‘right price.’  According to Which?, properties with an inflated selling price invariably end up being heavily reduced and take an extra 64 days to sell.

Keep Reviewing Price and Marketing Strategy (Every 2 Months)

Okay, so you’ve found an agent, they’ve done the initial marketing and launched it on Rightmove, so that’s it, right?  Wrong!  It’s a good idea to regularly check how well your agent is marketing your property to potential buyers.  Your estate agent should be working tirelessly on your behalf, giving you regular updates on what buyers think of your property and how much interest it’s getting online.  They should also be marketing your home in a consistent and dedicated way.  If they’re not, it may be time to look for a new agent.

Home Styling

Remember that prospective buyers are going to want to see inside your home so it’s essential that it looks its very best all the time it’s on the market.  Ask yourself the question: ‘would I want to move into this house, looking the way it does?’

It’s important to give potential buyers an idea of what the home could be, so take the time to spruce it up.  Or better still, use a home stylist to really show it off to its full potential.  The bottom line is, if it looks fabulous it will stand a far greater chance of selling, and selling fast!

Even if you live in an area that generally has a slower selling market there are many positive things you can do to ensure your house sells, and having the right marketing strategy is the most important one.

If you’d like an agent that will go the extra mile, give you an honest assessment of your property marketing and really work their socks off for you, please call us any time on 01235 751 888 or drop us a line at hello@stowhillestates.com  – we’d love to help!