First Impressions Count!
Create a sense of space in your home
- Maintaining clean hallways and stairwells
- Storing away any unnecessary furniture
- Clearing kitchen counters of any clutter
- Removing clothing from radiators and banisters
- Keeping colours neutral
- • Opening curtains and blinds for more light
Present a good standard of maintenance
- Repairing leaky taps and toilets
- Tightening door knobs and cupboard latches
- Replacing light bulbs where needed
- Refinishing chipped paint and plasterwork
- Checking your ceilings for water stains
- Freshening up with a coat of paint
Maximize the appeal of your home’s exterior
- Keeping lawns cut
- Maintaining trimmed hedges and lawns
- Ensuring the outside of your home is litter free
- Touching up painting if required
- Cleaning external features such as windows and facia /soffit boards
Create a positive atmosphere
- Ensuring that pets do not disturb viewers
- Switching on lighting and heating prior to viewings
- Keeping fresh flowers on display
- Vacating the property during the viewing
Timing
- The generally accepted time for selling is Spring and Autumn.
- The market slows down by late Summer and over Christmas and New Year
Other key considerations
Building Energy Rating Cert (BER)
From the 1st of January 2009, all homes offered for sale or rent are required by law to have a Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER), with fines of up to €5,000 for noncompliance. Each assessment will ascertain exactly how much energy and carbon a house will use or produce over a given year, and the performance will be rated from A to G. (A indicating the most energy-efficient and G the least). The BER register and a qualified list of BER assessors can also be found on seai.ie.
Solicitors
It is imperative that your solicitor has the contracts and title deeds prepared in advance of your property being brought to the market. We have noted a number of sales that have collapsed due to a time delay.
Keane Thompson would be more than happy to recommend a number of Solicitors we have worked with on previous properties.
Marketing
- Professional photography virtual video and floor plans as this shows off your property at its finest. Virtual videos in particular are extremely effective.
- A good quality brochure with all the relevant particulars is a must.
- A signboard erected outside the property is essential for passing traffic.
- Your property advertised on key websites including myhome.ie, daft.ie and the Keane Thompson website.
- A database of potential purchasers suitable for your property.
- A proven track record of selling property in your area.
- Social media campaign, we target potential buyers and tenants through facebook, twitter, instagram etc and finds this to be very successful.
Prepare to move when Sale Agreed
- Make a priority list
- Finalise the closing date as early as possible
- Start packing belongings that are not in use from day to day
- Once contracts are signed, notify people of your new address, newaddress.ie enables you to change your details with companies such as Bank of Ireland, Bord Gais, Eircom and more than 50 other companies
- Book the removal company once you have a certain close date
- Check your insurance policy and ensure your contents are covered from the day you move