PRESS RELEASE
ISSUE DATE:
18
April
2008
CHRISTOPHER BOND ESTATE
AGENTS REVEAL THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN SELLING IN A DIFFICULT MARKET
The
newspapers, radio and TV may be full of gloom and doom about the current state
of the property market, but by following a few simple rules, you can still
significantly improve your chances of achieving a successful sale – according to
leading Holsworthy estate agents Christopher Bond Estate Agents.
“Things simply aren’t as bad as the media would have us believe,” says
Christopher Bond of Christopher Bond Estate Agents “Even in the depths of the
last property recession – a far worse state of affairs than we are now
experiencing - there were still a million completed sales a year.”
The
reality, he explains, is that whatever the state of the market, there are always
serious buyers to be found – people who have genuine, pressing reasons for
moving home. “The trick is reaching those serious buyers in the most effective
way – and that’s where homeowners can do a lot to help themselves.”
Chris was speaking after returning from a regional meeting of the prestigious
Guild of Professional Estate Agents, where strategies for dealing with the
current state of the market were debated in detail. Christopher Bond Estate
Agents have represented the Guild in Holsworthy since 1998.
The
first thing that homeowners can do to improve their chances of a successful sale
is to choose their estate agent carefully, says Chris. “All estate agents are
not the same. You need to choose one who’ll give you the very best
professional advice. You need to be sure that they will market your home in the
most effective way to the widest possible group of potential buyers. And, you
need the peace of mind of knowing that your best interests will be protected.”
Personal recommendation
from someone with recent first-hand experience of buying and selling in your
area is obviously the best way of identifying a good agent. Unfortunately, such
help is not always available. Nor are the big, well-known national brands
necessarily any guarantee of good service, Chris points out. “Estate agency is
basically a people business - so the service you get is only as good as the
people staffing that particular branch. For that reason, it’s usually best to
start with a well-established independent agent – someone who really knows the
local marketplace, and whose whole business depends on delivering quality
personal service.”
However, the problem with
most ordinary independent agents is that they lack the resources and reach to
maximise a property’s exposure across the widest possible marketplace, he adds.
“Ideally, you need a local agent who can call on the marketing strength and
support of a major national network.”
Guild agents
fit
the bill on all counts. Each of them individually identified as the leading
firms in their respective areas, and all dedicated to maintaining the very
highest standards of professionalism and customer service, together they
comprise the UK’s foremost network of independent local estate agents. “Both
collectively and individually, Guild agents enjoy access to a unique range of
marketing tools - all specifically designed to generate maximum market exposure
at both local, regional and national levels,” says Chris. Those tools include
everything from superb full-colour property magazines and other promotional
materials to a dedicated website, an exclusive national referral system, and
even a prestigious Park Lane office providing high-profile access to the wealthy
London and international markets.
As
for peace of mind and professionalism, the Guild has long been in the forefront
of the industry by insisting on adherence to a strict code of conduct at all
times. Back in 2004, it became the first major national network to demand that
all members must also belong to either the Ombudsman Scheme or the prestigious
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The Guild subsequently raised the bar
for the rest of the industry even further by requiring all members to carry full
Professional Indemnity insurance.
To date, no other national
network has gone so far in setting and enforcing such high professional
standards.
The
net result of all this is that Guild agents like Christopher Bond Estate Agents
represent the very best of both worlds – all the traditional advantages of
dealing with a well-established local company, plus the strength and resources
of a major national network – together with the highest levels of trust and
confidence.
Next
on the list of things sellers can do to help themselves is pricing. “Your
asking price is probably the single most important factor in determining whether
or not you achieve a successful sale, so you need to get it right,” says Chris.
Yet that isn’t easy, he adds. “Obviously, everyone wants to get the best
possible price for their home, but if you ask too much, your chances of
achieving a successful sale could be significantly reduced – particularly when,
as now, buyers are spoilt for choice.”
In practice, he says,
pricing is best left to the experts, since they have the necessary knowledge and
experience to make those kind of judgements on an informed basis. Nevertheless,
as the seller – particularly in this kind of market – it’s important to manage
your own expectations. “At the end of the day, your home is worth what someone
is prepared to pay for it – so the key thing is to try and establish how much
similar properties in your area have recently sold for. Checking estate agents’
window displays and so on isn’t much help, since these are only asking prices.
Websites like
www.myhouseprice.com and
www.ourproperty.co.uk do provide this
kind of information - but you should always bear in mind that they get their
data from the Land Registry, so it’s basically 3 months out of date.”
Thirdly, says Chris, is the
condition of your home. “One of the best ways of ensuring you get the best
possible price for your home is by keeping it clean, tidy and well cared-for,
inside and out. This is true in any kind of market – but once again,
particularly so when buyers have lots of homes to choose from.” However, he
emphasises, the good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of effort
and expense. “It’s the little things that make the biggest difference – things
like fresh paintwork, clean kitchens and bathrooms, and tidy gardens.”
Choose your agent carefully, price your home realistically, and keep it spick
and span – follow these three simple steps, says Christopher Bond and you will
maximise your chances of achieving a successful sale at the best possible price
– even in today’s more challenging market.
End
For
further press information, please contact:
Christopher Bond FRICS, Christopher Bond Estate Agents Contact Tel
No: 01409 254238
Ross
Norman-Clarke, Tarragon Communications Ltd
01702 471965
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