Unless you’re selling an exceptional property in an upmarket neighborhood, it can be difficult to make your home stand out from the many others on the market and to attract more prospective buyers.
Walk-in closets, separate pantries and plenty of kitchen cabinets are something to boast about, and if you’ve invested in upgrading your home with built-in cupboards, additional kitchen or garage storage units, built-in desks or bookshelves, you should make sure that prospective buyers know about them.
Jan Davel, MD of the RealNet estate agency group, says, however, certain features that you may be used to or even take for granted might be just what buyers are looking for, so you should make sure that they are included when your home is advertised or listed online.
Davel shares tips on how to better market your home…
1. Maximize storage space
Davel says the first of these features is storage space. You might be moving because you’ve outgrown your home, but you should try to remember what it felt like to live in a rented home with a minimal number of cupboards.
Davel says walk-in closets, separate pantries and plenty of kitchen cabinets are something to boast about, and if you’ve invested in upgrading your home with built-in cupboards, additional kitchen or garage storage units, built-in desks or bookshelves, you should make sure that prospective buyers know about them.
For the first-time buyer craving a less messy lifestyle to the buyer looking for a family home that has enough personal space for everyone, the option of being able to organize and tidy away everything they own is a huge bonus, he says.
2. List local attractions and amenities
Not all prospective buyers will be aware that your neighborhood is a lifestyle gem with parks, shops and a great school close by, or that the bus stop is just a block away from your house so mention these in your advert.
Next, Davel says you should make sure your advert includes a short list of local attractions and amenities, and their distance from your home.
“Not all prospective buyers will be aware that your neighborhood is a lifestyle gem with parks, shops and a great school close by, or that the bus stop is just a block away from your house. Alternatively, buyers who were only looking in a certain price range may now be made aware of your property because it is close to something they wish to access, such as the Gautrain, university or a certain business node.”
3. Mention green features
Third, Davel says with the cost of water and electricity continuing to rise and energy-efficient homes becoming increasingly sought after in South Africa, it’s important to mention whether your home has any energy-saving features like a solar geyser or gas stove.
“Even buyers who are not necessarily looking for a ‘green’ home can be enticed by the potential for reduced monthly expenses offered by an energy efficient home. So if your home is a basic, no-frills property but has a rainwater tank, solar panels, new LED light fittings or even a borehole and garden irrigation system, make sure you mention these in your listing.”
You can target specific buyers by tailoring your property listing or advert and highlighting the different aspects that your potential buyer might find attractive.
4. Note health or natural aspects like vegetable gardens
Having a small vegetable garden or a proper composting system might also be an advantage for those seeking to embrace a healthier, natural lifestyle, says Davel. So don’t overlook features just because they didn’t cost you a lot of money.
5. Tailor your advert
Alternatively, try to think about the different types of buyers that might find it attractive and target them specifically. For example, if your home is a smaller, single-storey house with no steps and is easy to maintain, you could gain a massive audience of potential buyers if you tailor your advertising to appeal to older people who are looking for a home in which they can enjoy a comfortable retirement.
On the other hand, Davel says you may want to focus on the fact that your home is larger than most others in the area, and is suitable for extended families who need to accommodate some older relatives in a granny flat or garden cottage, or buyers who would like to have a home office or a professional practice on the same premises.
In short, he says the trick when listing your property for sale is to think like a buyer.
Source: Property 24
