1. Choose an agent with a town centre office, they need to be a legal estate agency, licensed by the local authority. Check that your agent is a member of the Association of International Property Professionals. The badge of AIPP membership is a reminder to you, the seller, that a company must follow professional standards and act with honesty, integrity and transparency.
2. Have a look at your agent’s online marketing. 92% of homebuyers start their house hunt online. Studies have shown that listings with more photos are twice as likely to be viewed by buyers.
3. Pricing! Today’s buyers research extensively on the internet before choosing to view. Price your property correctly for the current market, not what you have spent on the house.
4. Access is essential. Homes that don’t get shown don’t get sold. If you are away let your agent know keyholder details or give your agent a key, it really makes all the difference.
5. First impressions are so important. Carry out basic repairs, clean the outside of the house and garden. Eliminate anything which reflects negatively on the property. Look critically at your house as a buyer would. Is there anything which could be improved at no or minimal cost? Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, fix leaky taps and clean the grout.
6. Don’t spend too much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do low cost updates that will pay off.
7. Remove as many as possible personal items from the walls and excess furniture and clutter from the house. Not only does it make the rooms seem larger, it also allows home owners to see the walls and imagine how their belongings will look in the new home.
8. I love dogs and cats but not everybody likes pets. If you can keep the animals away from viewers it really helps. Banish the dog beds, cat litter and pet food if possible.
9. Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home, especially in Spain. Take down the curtains, clean the windows and open the shutters.
10. Leave some goodies behind. Include extra items that are above and beyond what the average homebuyer would expect, American fridge freezer, leather sofas, patio furniture, etc. The buyer will aspire to the lifestyle not just the house.