Menu
Top Tips for Sellers
So, you have decided to sell your house in Spain. The question now is what to do next…
This guide aims to give you, the seller, some general advice on what you can do to sell your house faster and at a higher price.
HomeEspaña definitely recommends working with a reputable and experienced estate agent.
A professional estate agent will save you time and above all a lot of hassle dealing with potential buyers who could waste a lot of your time.
However, there are a lot of real estate agents to choose from, so which one should you go with?
Here is a list of questions you should be asking any estate agent, including HomeEspaña, that you are considering working with:
- How long has the agency been operating for?
- Is the agency legally registered with the Regional Government?
- How many offices does the agency have?
- How many employees does the agency have?
- How many properties did the agency sell last year?
- How does the agency market your property?
- What is the selling process?
- What nationalities does the agency cater for (and how)?
- What does the agency charge and when do you have to pay?
- Can they help with other services through trusted collaborators?
How to prepare your property?
1) The Valuation Appointment
After you choose the agent that you are going to list your property with, they will send someone to take photos and potentially do a video of your property to create the advertisement they will use to try and attract interested buyers.
It is therefore absolutely essential that you prepare your property for this visit, so the photographer can showcase your home in the best possible light.
Our Tips
1) Clean Up – Make sure your house is clean and tidy, that any clutter is stored in cupboards and wardrobes and that all the beds are made.
2) Do Repairs – Don’t give potential buyers any excuse to negotiate your asking price. Fix that dripping tap, that door that creaks or doesn’t close properly, touch up those walls with chipped paint.
3) Depersonalise – Potential buyers need to be able to visualise what the house would look like if they lived there. This is much easier to do if you remove any personal items from view e.g. photos, souvenirs etc.
4) Outside – Make sure patios are swept and garden furniture is clean. Remove any broken outdoor furniture or junk from view and tidy up the outdoor area as much as possible.
2) The Viewing Appointment
Once the advertisement goes live, you should start to receive requests from your agent to visit your home with potential buyers.
HomeEspaña has a dedicated telesales team whose job it is to ascertain whether or not these buyers are actually ready to move forward with a purchase before they visit your property, but it is always a good idea to ask that question, because you don’t want to waste your time opening your home to someone who is not in a position to buy.
So, make sure every viewing is a real opportunity to sell your home!
Our Tips
1) Before the viewing
– You only have one chance to make a first impression, so make sure your house is clean and tidy when a potential buyer walks through the door.
– Make sure the blinds are up for daytime viewings and that the lights are on in every room for evening viewings.
– Fresh flowers or scent sticks create a pleasant atmosphere and make your house much more attractive to a potential buyer.
2) During the viewing
– When you have a viewing, we generally recommend you let the real estate agent show the buyer around your house. They are professionals and know how to make the buyer feel comfortable and at home during the viewing.
– Make yourself available at the end of the viewing in case the agent or the client has any questions for you and then see them out.
3) After the viewing
– A truly professional agent will give you feedback from the potential buyers that have visited your home. You should demand this feedback from your agent, because you can sometimes learn interesting comments that may help you prepare your home better for future viewings.
We hope these tips help you navigate the sale of your property successfully, but if in doubt, please do not hesitate to contact us at HomeEspaña. We sell more than 500 houses in Spain a year and have been operating since 2002, so we really can help you!
