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Most agents are good talkers – but do their follow up actions bear out what they say after they have made their first impression?

Many prospective vendors say they choose an agent based on their gut feelings and that having any eye for character helps as it does in any situation where trust is involved. Is the agent standing in your living room really interested in you and your house? Or is their spiel just another sales pitch? Did they allow enough time to get to know you, your needs and your property? The agent who will do the best job of selling your property will be the one who takes the time to find out what your needs are so that they can take as much stress out of the process as possible. Sometimes seemingly small things convey whether your property is more than just another commission. It is commonly reported by property sellers that some sales consultants visiting their home for the first time didn’t even take the time to walk to the back of the garden, or check out the under house storage and workshop. Naturally, property owners with their eyes and ears open will list with the agent who walks the entire property even when it’s raining. Many agents who race through the inspection of your home would like you to think they are inundated with clients but it is more likely that they are bad planners; why did they come to view your property in the first place if they didn’t have time? If agents don’t pay attention to detail now when trying to win your business how interested will they be once they have won it? If you don’t want to rely on your own judgment when selecting an agent, it is worth talking to others you know who have recently bought or sold a home. Or why not ask your prospective agent for references? A professional agent will be only too happy to provide testimonials they have received from past clients.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

Your Professionals property consultant doesn’t just sit back and wait for your home to be sold as if by magic. Selling a home is a serious business and whatever market conditions prevail; there will always be other properties competing with yours. Your Professionals property consultant will carry out a variety of activities to ensure your property is properly listed and marketed.

When it is sold, all the procedures are followed to ensure a hassle-free sale. Here are just some of the activities your Professional can carry out for you – and its all part of our Professional service.

- Inspect the property.
- Provide a market appraisal.
- Research sales evidence and prepare a comparative market analysis.
- Research certificate of title and documents relating to encumbrances.
- Research metropolitan and regional planning schemes and other statutory authority requirements.
- Provide a marketing proposal to your budget.
- Recommend ways to optimise the appeal of your property.
- Closely liaise with you about convenient inspection times.
- Arrange signage and photography of your property.
- Design, produce and lodge advertising and promotional material.
- List property on the Internet. (Realestate.com.au / Professionalsnewfarm.com.au / Domain.com.au)
- Promote the property to prospective purchasers.
- Promote the property to other agents.
- Introduce prospective purchasers to the property and conduct inspections.
- Conduct Open Homes and Auctions.
- Maintain a register of inspections.
- Provide regular reports on buyer interest and feedback.
- Present all written offers to the vendor.
- Prepare the contracts and draft appropriate special conditions.
- Receipt deposit and hold in secure agents’ trust account.
- Monitor contract from sale to settlement.
- Arrange and attend final inspection by purchaser prior to settlement.

EXPLAINING THE APPRAISAL PROCESS

How much is your home really worth?

Deciding the most appropriate price for your property is the most important function of the whole selling process. Most people believe they have a fair idea just by looking in the paper or real estate magazines. However, in many cases this is a dangerous strategy as every home is different. They may be in the same suburb or even the same street, but that bears little relation to the selling price of your home today.

The only accurate way to establish the right selling price for your home is to get a market appraisal by a qualified Professional sales consultant. Market appraisals by Professionals are absolutely obligation free and are not based on simply gut-feel or just experience. Professionals, as your real estate agent, will give you an accurate assessment of the current market conditions – is it a buyers’ or sellers’ market? They will detail for you how many homes have been sold recently in your area, the average price and descriptions of the homes.

Professionals know your area and will ensure that you position the price for your home correctly. All successful sales are based on getting the pricing formula right. Overpricing or under pricing is a common fault, which can lead to heartbreak if you are not armed with all the facts. For such a big decision it is worth getting a Professional market appraisal – they may even have a list of buyers waiting for your home right now.

MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS

Once we have assessed your property and taken into account various factors such as the current state of the market, recent sales activity, the level of competition your property faces in the market, supply and demand, any unique selling features of your property, as well as your own personal requirements for selling; we will recommend what is, in our opinion, the most suitable Sales Strategy to achieve the best possible result.

Possible Sales Strategy recommendations may include:

- Auction
- For Sale – Exclusive Listings
- For Sale – Multiple Listing Service REIQ
- For Sale by Tender

Once all factors have been considered and a suitable Sales Strategy recommended, we would then (in conjunction with you) develop a tailored Marketing Strategy that meets the exact requirements of the chosen Sales Strategy, all relevant factors relating to your property and your marketing requirements.

The Marketing Strategy would combine a selection of activities to market your property to maximum effect. These activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Home Opens
- Signage
- Newspaper advertising (Local, State, National)
- Internet listing at the popular www.professionals.com.au
- Office window display cards
- Brochures
- Real Estate magazines (eg .REIQ Realtor, or Homes Pictorial)
- National publications (eg Colour Magazines)
- Professionals referral network
- Office and Group database marketing (targeted to buyers seeking properties with your criteria.
- Local area marketing (approx. 80% of people buy within 5km of their previous home)

17 LITTLE KNOWN SECRETS TO SELLING YOUR HOME

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. It might be time to add a bit of shine and polish to your home. First impressions will be lasting so it’s important that your home looks its absolute best inside and out.

1. Lasting First Impressions
The front door greets the prospect. Make sure it is clean. Keep the lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of rubbish. Lots of healthy green plants in the kitchen, bathroom, entrances and verandah’s look attractive and create a good impression.

2. Open Airy Atmosphere
Illumination is welcoming. Drawn curtains and drapes are lovely but can tend to dull the atmosphere. Make sure your home is well lit. Dark rooms do not appeal. Clean all marks off the walls to make rooms brighter.

3. Decorate – Set the Scene
Colourful flowers and some indoor plants help to set the scene of tranquility and serenity. Strategically place them throughout the home/unit. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. By redecorating, the potential purchaser is shown how good the home/unit can look.

4. Fittings – Repairs Make A Big Difference
Small things such as leading taps, loose knobs, sticking doors or windows put people on the defensive and lead your agent to make apologies for lack of maintenance. Minimise these annoyances, flaws detract from your homes value. Have them fixed.

5. Kitchens and Bathrooms
These are the most important rooms in the house and must be presented in a spotless condition. Don’t leave dishes in the sink or on the drain board. Some dishes cooked the night before may leave an unpleasant odour. Dripping water and discoloured sinks, suggest faulty plumbing. Fix any loose or broken tiles. If the mirror needs replacing, do so, or at least give it a good clean. Tidy draws and vanity, putting cosmetics, razors and toiletries away. Attractive bottles of perfume always look elegant. Put a posy or bowl of potpourri next to the basin or a display of decorative soaps.

6. Room to Move
Remove excess furniture, allowing potential purchasers to move freely around the home.

7. Obvious Faults
The discovery of even a relatively minor fault by a potential purchaser often leads to a more thorough search of the property. Reduce the risk of a guarded and tentative inspection; fix any faults prior to showing your home.

8. Cupboards and wardrobes
Most genuine purchasers wish to know about storage and therefore inspect the areas. Tidy these spaces and make sure they are not overcrowded to avoid any impression of lack of space.

9. Not for sale items
Any favourite light fittings, curtains, blinds or any other item with sentimental attachment should be removed and alternative replacement items put in place prior to your agent showing your home. It avoids complications when you get an offer from a purchaser.

10. Pets
Most people like pets, but some don’t! Make sure they are out of the way when purchasers are coming through.
A barking dog will not only concern some people, by may also take their concentration away from inspecting your home.
Remove kitty litter trays and pet food bowls.

11. Garage
Make sure all garden equipment and general gear is placed as favourably as possible, to give an impression of size.

12. List of features
There is a good possibility that the features you liked about your home/unit could be the same as the ones a new owner will find attractive. Make a list of these and give them to your agent to help capitalise them.

13. Encourage feedback
When an inspection is taking place make sure you are well out of range of potential purchasers. This will encourage them to speak freely and make comments to your sales person.

14. Lights
Adding atmosphere assists in selling a home. Ensure light globes have been replaced and that darker rooms have lights on.

15. Music
Create the right mood to buy. Play appropriate music during your open for inspection to invoke the buyers emotions from your potential buyers. Softly play the music in the background.

16. Appeal to their sense of smell.
Fresh flowers not only add colour but provide an exotic fragrance for potential purchasers.

17. Fresh Fruit
Place a bowl of fresh fruit with a variety of colours in a prominent position within the kitchen or dining room areas.

THE RIGHT CHOICE

No matter what your real estate needs may be, we know that we can deliver the assistance, service and results that you demand.

When you want to sell your home and achieve the best possible price, it makes sense to look at the track record of success of the company you choose, and make sure that they have earned the right to present your home to the market.

When you are looking to buy property, you should insist on dealing with a highly professional, reputable and well known company that can provide you with a wide range of properties, as well as offering specialist advice.

The Queensland founded and Internationally represented Professionals Real Estate Group base their success on leading the way with the industry’s highest standard of marketing systems whilst maintaining a critical focus on what matters most to you, our client, friendly good old fashioned service! Now in our 25th Year we maintain the highest ideals and ethics in real estate.

Buyers come to Professionals because we have a wide range of properties to choose from, and sellers seek us out because we have the buyers.

We aim to sell homes quicker and for more money, meaning our customers profit both ways.

Now, with almost 500 offices in Australia, New Zealand, PNG, and South East Asia, Professionals combined sales exceed in excess of 8 billion dollars annually, it is easy to see that our systems works.

Professionals New Farm is the no. 1 office in the New Farm area and has been for over 20 years.

We are a long standing family owned and operated business with a strong team of highly professional yet personal people.

Our mission is to ensure that all our clients receive the highest possible returns on their investment and the lowest vacancy period and to sell our clients’ properties for the highest possible price in the shortest possible time through delivering professional service.

Here at Professionals New Farm we strive to make sure that each and every one of our clients receives the highest level of personal service available.

Our office is structured so that you receive immediate, professional quality service with every issue in relation to your investment from start to finish.

We will always follow through in every matter relating to your investment, which in turn gives you peace of mind. We do not give false promises.

Professionals New Farm will be with you every step of the way whether you are buying, selling or renting. We are real people working in real property.

Professionals take our social responsibilities within the community very seriously. We care for our members, our clients and the wider community as they are as much a part of our lives as we are a part of theirs. Professionals across Australia have committed to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to raise $500,000 nationally per annum.Over the years we have raised much needed funds for the people at the NBCF, thanks to donations from the public, a portion of each sale from every office, and the fantastic staff that work within our organisation. Professionals will continue to build the special relationship we have with the NBCF until a cure can be found for this deadly disease.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation strives to fund the latest research into developing a cure for breast cancer. Professionals and the NBCF have formed a Diamond Partnership, with a financial fundraising commitment being pledged annually. Right across Australia fundraising continues throughout the year with charity events and auctions at both a national and local office level.

To visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s website, click here – www.nbcf.org.au

1. Choose a local Real Estate Agent. Professionals are independently owned real estate businesses, with Agents who know their local areas and know the people who make up the community. When you choose to work with Professionals, you benefit from all the advantages offered by a fully networked real estate group, and receive the individual attention and responsibility provided by a privately owned, local business. Should you choose not to work with Professionals, ensure that you have done your research on your Agent.
2. We’ll help you choose the best way to sell your home. To successfully sell a home it’s important to have a sound knowledge of the local real estate market. We’ll help you decide on a realistic value for your home, based on actual market activity in your area and we’ll guide you through the preparation for presentation to the market. We’ll work with you to plan the best mix of marketing activity to attract buyers to your home. Signs, Internet, office displays, press or maybe a catalogue all help to sell your home.
3. We’ll help you customise your own marketing plan. You’ll be shown marketing plans from which we’ll help you customise one to suit the property and your budget. It’s also your choice how to sell your home. We’ll discuss with you the best method the suits you and the property – For Sale or Auction. It’s our job to make the sale of your home a rewarding experience.

Contact your local Professionals Agent for your free Pathway to Selling booklet or download your free copy today.