Is it the right time for your house to be on the Peterborough Property market? To know when to take that decisive action you must first know why you’re selling and what you want to achieve.
Deciding when to put your house on the Peterborough property market isn’t easy. You don’t want to miss out on your dream home because your existing property took too long to sell. Likewise you don’t want to be pressured into a quick sale when you could have waited and sold at a higher price.
There are plenty of variables in play. Each seller has a slightly different set of reasons for moving. Each property has its own set of nuances. The market fluctuates from season to season. Knowing when to list your property depends on why you are selling and what you want to achieve. That’s why it’s so important to choose an estate agent who can give you honest and reputable advice based on your personal circumstances.
Here’s some advice.
If you’re on a deadline…
Need to move quickly? Allow a month to box up your belongings and work backwards. Then look for an estate agent in Peterborough with three key qualities:
- a track record of selling properties like yours
- a comprehensive end-to-end service
- proactive communication skills to keep you updated throughout the sales process
Be prepared to do everything you can to achieve a quick sale. That includes compromising on the asking price, preparing copies of council tax, utility and contents insurance bills to help potential buyers gauge running costs and even moving in to rented accommodation if necessary.
QUICK TIP: Your house should be listed on major property websites – preferably going live during a weekday evening or weekend morning to trigger property alerts when buyers are more likely to be able to view your listing before it’s buried by subsequent alerts.
If you want to achieve the best price…
Perhaps you don’t have any urgency to move. You are more interested in achieving the best price possible. Annual growth rate in average UK house prices has slowed since mid-2016, though prices are currently growing at 4.4%. Patience could be worth thousands of pounds.
If you want to hold out for a high bidder, look for an estate agent with excellent knowledge of the local market, again with a track record of selling properties like yours in Peterborough. They will know how to market your property to the right type of buyers.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for…
You are tempted by living somewhere new, but you are not entirely sure what you are looking for. That’s okay. Get a valuation of your property from an expert in the local market. Once you know what your house is worth you can conduct some mortgage enquiries and get a clear idea of what type of property you can afford – and where. If you know there’s going to be interest in your property, there’s no harm in waiting until you have another property lined up.
If your house has sentimental value…
Maybe you are selling a family home that costs you too much to run. Perhaps it’s been in the family for decades or is the home you grew up in. It can be hard to let go – and you need to find a sensitive estate agent who respects that, helping you to sell to the right buyer at the right price rather than pushing you in to a fast sell. Take your time to research estate agents carefully.
An important note on property valuations
A lot of estate agents offer free property valuations – us included – and it can be tempting to ask the first agent you come across to value your property. That may not be wise. Accurate valuations come from agents with expert local knowledge and experience of your type of property. Secondly, some less reputable agents use free valuations as an opportunity to pressure you in to signing a contract that forces you to sell with that agent.
Here at Belvoir Peterborough we are led by our customers. The first step is to meet face to face to discuss your concerns and ambitions. If you are looking for no more than an expert valuation and some insider knowledge of the market, that’s fine with us. We believe in doing right by our customers and the wider community, rather than going for the hard sell. If you would like an informal chat about your options, please feel free to contact me directly using the details below.
Lottie Hostead
Sales Manager
Lottie.hostead@belvoir.co.uk
01733 511099
This blog is written by Lottie, Lottie Hostead is Belvoir Peterborough’s Property Sales Manager. Born and raised here she is both a property expert with 10 years experience selling homes in Peterborough and a genuine local.
If you’re thinking of selling your home here then give her a call for a free no-obligation valuation
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