With over 40 years experience in the local area the team at Allen & Sheppard will lead you through the process of selling your home.
How much is my property worth?
This is one of, if not the most important factors in selling your property. A good real estate agent has the experience and market data to ensure you target the correct price point and achieve the most for your property. If the price is too low you will sell quickly, however, you may miss out on the maximum achievable price. Price the home to high and you risk the home sitting on the market for months, becoming stale and again missing the maximum achievable price.
How can you tell if the price is right?
To price a home, valuers and agents alike compare your property with other properties currently on the market and more importantly, with recently sold properties in the area. A good agent will know up-to-date sales data, the trends and demands of the current market and know exactly what the current buyers in the area are looking for.
The experienced staff at Allen and Sheppard use the latest recent sale data, market trends and are trained in valuation skills to get the price right the first time. We have attached a list of recent sales and comparable properties so you can research and become confident of the recommended price. Be assured we will always endeavor to get you the maximum price possible.
Who should I use to sell my property?
If you don’t have the best representing you, you can not expect the best results. If you are considering selling your property there are a number of questions you should be asking.
- What are your agents qualifications and local experience?
- Who will be actually showing your home?
- How will your home be marketed?
- How will the right buyers be found and how will the price be negotiated?
- How will feedback be provided to you by your agent?
- Do you trust the agent and the company they represent?
- Most importantly you have to be comfortable and trust the agent you are dealing with, they are working for you.
We hope we have answered all the above questions, however if you require further clarification please do not hesitate to ask.
Select an Agent and sign an agreement
This will allow your chosen agent to market your property, show prospective buyers through and bring you offers from interested parties. It is illegal for any agent to promote or show a property without an agency agreement. If you choose not to sell before an offer is accepted you may take the property off the market at any time.
Prepare your property for sale
We can offer advice regarding the best way to present your property. We have included a short guide on preparing your property and a list of local trades people who could help prepare your property if necessary. You may also like to make use of:
- Our gerni to clean your house and paths
- Our whipper snipper to trim your edges
- Our blower to blow your driveway
- Our shredder to tidy up your yard
This is provided to your clients at no cost to you. Just ask your sales specialist.
Organise & Prepare Documentation
It is necessary by law to have a Contract for the Sale of land prepared and an Agency Agreement signed in order to begin to sell your home. We work closely with your solicitor/conveyancer to obtain the necessary documentation to commence marketing your property as quickly as possible.
Prepare Marketing & Advertising
All marketing material is booked, ordered and written, this will include:
- Photography and floor plan
- Preparation of vouchers, copy text, and internet displays
You can leave this up to us or be a part of the process, this is up to you.
The Marketing Process Begins
Your property is advertised as per schedule and buyers within our database are contacted and notified your property is For Sale. Our goal is to bring as many genuine buyers as possible through your property in an effort to get you the most for your home.
Buyer Inspections & Open Homes
We will arrange open homes and inspections by appointment with you to show prospective buyers. Once inspections are completed we will report back to you comments made- both positive or negative- so you are fully informed of the markets response to your property.
Buyer Follow Up
Buyer follow up is crucial and one of the activities that set us apart. We will follow up all potential buyers to assess their response. This may result in a second inspection or even an offer.
Negotiation
When an interested buyer is found they will make an offer in writing. Your sales consultant will go through the offer with you. At this stage it is important to consider all components of the offer and the negotiation skills of your agent will then help YOU decide to either counter offer, accept or decline. Your agent will help to guide you through to get the best possible price with conditions that suit you.
Exchange of Contracts
Once the sale has been negotiated your sales specialist will advise your solicitor/conveyancer & will attend to exchange of contracts either by way of a cooling off period (where the purchaser will pay 0.25% deposit to hold the property for 5 or 10 days) or by way of a 66w certificate (which will mean the full deposit is paid and the home is officially sold). Your experienced agent will advise you the best way for your individual situation.
Settlement
Settlement will take place on an agreed period after the sale is exchanged and is when the purchase price is paid to the seller and the buyer becomes the legal owner. We shall assist you right through to settlement and even after this, you will be welcome to pop into our office and enjoy a cuppa – Just like many of our past clients do.
Advertising
Window Display
Having the only fully customized television screens in the area, your property will be displayed in our prominent window to be seen by over 60,000 cars per day. The display features a detailed description as well as numerous photographs.
Brochures
Specially designed brochures are given to all potential purchasers, each containing a detailed description along with photographs, and a floor plan if available.
Letterbox Drops
Our “Just Listed” letterbox drops are delivered to the local area within days of your property coming onto the market, targeting local buyers interest in upgrading or downsizing but wanting to stay in the immediate area.
Newspaper
Our full page advertisement in the Hornsby Advocate offers extra saturation to the local market by being delivered to homes and featuring a total circulation of over 51,450 copies each week. 57% of people move less than 6km from their previous address. Distribution includes Asquith, Berowra, Brooklyn, Cherrybrook, cowan, Hornsby, Hornsby Heights, Mount Colah, Mount Ku-ring-gai, Moony Mooony, Normanhurst, North Turramurra, North Wahroonga, Pennant Hills, South Turramurra, Turrumurra, Thornleigh, Wahroonga, Waitara, Warrawee & Westleigh We still find this advertising very effective in Targeting the local buyers and as a tool to direct buyers to the internet listings.
The Internet
The largest and most useful marketing tool in real estate today. Your Property will be advertised on four internet sites including Australia’s two largest sites www.Realestate.com.au witch was viewed by over 6.5 million browsers in March 2010 & www.domain.com.au viewed by 3,000,000 million per month. www.realestateworld.com.au is one of Australia’s quickest growing sites and is soon becoming a must. All sites Including numerous photographs and a full description of the properties, amenities and location.
Allen & Sheppard is the only agency able to offer it customers the Exclusive Agent Showcase for the suburbs of Thornleigh and Westleigh. This is exclusive to Allen & Sheppard and insures your property has the biggest and best exposure on the internet. If your property is seen by more buyers then it is likely to be sold for more.
Professional photography and floorplans
Maximise you marketing by having professional photographers capture the best angles of your property.
Professional Photography
Maximise you marketing by having professional photographers capture the best angles of your property.
Wide angled lenses can capture large areas and show views to perfection. The photographs are used for all areas of marketing from brochures to newspapers, window and internet displays.
Talk to your agent about the best package for your property.
Floorplans
Floorplans are drawn up by an external company which is then attached to your property’s advertising brochure. This creates a professional and informative look for the property.
Signboards
Photographic signboards are effective in showing the passer by the benefits of the property that they are unable to see from the street.
Making a welcome invitation
Make sure your home looks as attractive from the street as possible. Clean the guttering and the window and get rid of the leaves and cobwebs. Maybe even a repaint or wash down of the exterior is in order.
Garden and Views
Overgrown gardens are an eyesore & give the impression of being too difficult to look after. Mow the lawns, trim the edges, prune the trees & weed the garden. Use your views to maximum advantage.
Spring Clean
Get out the scrubbing brush and the feather duster… it can make all the difference.
See the Light
Dark houses are uninviting. Open the curtains and turn on the lights before an inspection.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Get rid of those nasty house smells. Have your carpets & curtains cleaned and open the windows.
Make them feel at home
Add some homely touches – fresh flowers on the table and jars of cookies in the kitchen. And try not to be home during inspections. The buyer can feel like an intruder if the owner is looking over their shoulder.
Pets
Not everybody loves them… no matter how much you do. It would be advised to place pets out of the home for the period of the inspection.
Bathrooms & Kitchens
They are the most important rooms in the house and northing less that sparking will do. Check leaky taps- they may suggest faulty plumbing.
“Handyman’s Dream” Syndrome
Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows and cracking plaster detract from the value of your home. Faults encourage buyers to look for more. Have them fixed.
Decorate for a Quick Sale
Don’t leave improvements to the buyer’s imaginations. Through decorating your house with colourful cushions or rugs can leave a homely impression.
Silence is Golden
Let the agent and the buyer talk free of disturbance. Turn off the blaring radio, television or stereo.
Temperature
Cool in summer and warm in winter are the best environments for sale.
Space is Ace
Show the full size of your home by removing all the unnecessary articles – cluttered rooms appear smaller. Neat, well orders cupboards, robes and pantries show that cupboard space is ample. Do some stocktaking, it will make it easier for the move.