Selling a property in the current economic climate is never going to be easy, but buyers in Liverpool are finding it particularly tough. Walking around much of inner-city residential Liverpool, it looks like a terrible catastrophe has hit the city. New Labour’s plans for a ‘housing market renewal’ were doomed to failure, and when they collapsed they left behind a wasteland of destruction, dereliction and ramshackle buildings. The bottom fell out of the housing market, and the haemorrhage of jobs at the docks and the depopulation of the city left a scarcity of buyers. This means that if you have a house to sell in Liverpool, you’re probably struggling to move your property on. But don’t despair; here’s some advice to ensure you get the sale you need.
- Finish Those DIY Jobs
If you’re trying to sell your property, you might see very little point in improving it and making it more habitable. The door knob has fallen off? Why bother replacing it, when you can just stick it back on and use it like that for a few months? That’s the wrong attitude to have; the more a potential buyer has to do themselves, the more it will put them off. If your property is on the market, it’s time to do all of the DIY jobs you haven’t got around to.
- Spring Clean
Gut every room, clean and scrub it. Every speck of dust or grime needs to be wiped away – no-one wants to live with somebody else’s dirt. Start boxing things up in preparation for your move, starting with all of your clutter. Although your property needn’t look like a show home, viewers assume that you’ll have made an effort to show it to its full potential, so if it’s cluttered and untidy they’ll suspect that’s as good as it’s ever going to look.
- Create the Right First Impression
The first thing a buyer will see is the exterior of your property. Even if you live amongst the wasteland of abandoned ‘housing market renewal’ properties, make your home stand out. Wash the windows, repaint the door and tidy and plant the garden. You need to entice people to take a closer look if you’re ever going to make a sale.
- Don’t Stick to One Estate Agent
Don’t get caught in a six month contract with one estate agent who just can’t seem to sell your property. You might be tempted by the generous discounts associated with exclusive contracts, but bear in mind that paying a higher fee is less burdensome than a property that doesn’t sell. Aim to advertise your home with at least three agents, so that it’s being presented to the largest possible market.
- Approach A Quick Sale Enterprise
Quick sale enterprises are the only guaranteed buyers remaining in the Liverpool property market. If you take a chance and wait for a private buyer, you might not sell your property at all, especially if it’s one of the many left in the decimated city centre landscape. However, quick sale enterprises will buy a property in any condition and location – they don’t care if your colour scheme is outdated or the neighbouring properties are little more than abandoned shacks. If you’ve come to the end of the line with your property and you can’t wait any longer, get in touch with one. These businesses will finalise the sale of your house within seven days, ensuring that your property is off your hands and cash is in your pocket when you most need it.
Photo credit: @TheGuardian