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Three seconds to sell your home

24 July 2012MeetMyAgent

Recent research by the UK’s largest property portal, RightMove, showed that buyers are spending an average of just three seconds on a seller’s summary advert before moving on to the next property.

Potential buyers are increasingly using property portals during the property search, meaning that effectively marketing your property online is now one of the most important factors in the selling process.

But with such a large choice of properties available online, and relatively few buyers available to buy them, how can you make your property stand out in just three seconds?

Love at first click

Making a positive first impression is no longer just about curb appeal and creating a ‘wow’ factor when a buyer walks in – it’s about capturing their interest before they even set foot through the door.

Well-written property details and professional photographs that showcase your properties best attributes have never been more important. A poorly constructed advert or just one bad photograph is all it takes to lose a buyer’s interest, especially if they are rushing through hundreds of other property listings.

However, love at first sight doesn’t always happen, and sometimes you need to encourage your buyers to take a second look. Floorplans and video tours will help keep buyers on your listing and give them more time to take in your property by providing them with more things to click on and adding an interactive element to your advert.

The price is right

While having an online presence is now a necessity, the first thing a buyer looks at is whether the property is in their price bracket and whether it is a good price for what it is. If it’s too expensive, then they will just move on to the next property.

Pricing is therefore key, especially in the current market, which is why you shouldn’t automatically instruct the estate agent that offers you the highest valuation for your property. The last thing you want is for your property to be on the market for a few months and having to cut the asking price to a level you should probably have started off with!

You should therefore ask your local estate agent for comparables to similar properties and do a little research yourself before marketing your property. Whatever you set your asking price as, remember this is only an indication of value and if you want a quick sale you should be prepared to negotiate for the right buyer (e.g. a cash buyer or one with a mortgage in place).

Three seconds is not a lot of time to tempt a buyer, but with an attractive advert and realistic pricing you give yourself the best chance of generating interest and ultimately selling your property!

Already have viewings lined up? Read our article for some great ways to make your home more appealing without breaking the bank: Make your home a buyer magnet.