There are many reasons for us to want to sell fast: we might want to seize the current opportunities in the market to upgrade, or urgently need to cash out on the profits. Maybe we have other plans in the future that are being affected by the sale of the flat.
Even if we do not have a reason to sell our flat fast, it can benefit us. Time on market is known to be inversely related to price – flats that are on sale for longer periods of time will lose value, reducing our finals profits.
Here’s how we can sell our HDB Flat fast.
How To Sell HDB Flat Fast
Price point
It is tempting for us to list our flats as high as possible to leave room for negotiation and to gain greater profits. However, this strategy can actually hurt us instead. Use the information of the latest transaction prices listed on HDB and URA to decide on a reasonable price point.
Declutter the mess
A neat house is pleasing to the eye and leaves a good impression on buyers. Whether it is for viewings or for listing photos, having too much clutter can distract potential buyers from the features of the flat itself. The beautiful furnishing and perfect layout should not be hidden by your clutter.
While decluttering, it is good to give the house a good cleaning up by sweeping and mopping the floors, and de-dusting appliances.
Keep your doorstep neat
First impressions are extremely important. While you may think that a messy doorstep doesn’t matter, buyers may subconciously feel that the flat is smaller than it actually is.
Buying a flat is an experience, so aim to deliver the best experience for your potential buyer and you will be rewarded for it.
Lighting is key
Light plays an extremely important role in our daily lives. It is hard to over-state the importance of good lighting in a house, especially when we are looking to sell.
Houses that get an abundance of natural sunlight can fetch a much higher price than darker ones. But not all lighting is good, as houses that are shield from the infamous west-sun fetch higher prices as well.
We want to introduce as much natural light as possible, as it can help to brighten up the colour tones in the flat and make it pop.
In the absence of natural light, we can make use of white artificial lights, avoiding warmer tones as much as possible, as it can cause the features of the flat to wash out.
With sufficient lighting, it gives a good impression for buyers that come for viewing and for listing photos.
Take good pictures
The first time that a potential buyer knows anything about your house is through the pictures you post online or send to them. A well photographed house may get enquiries even with a higher price point, whereas a listing with poorly done photography may not get much, even with a lower price point.
In order to take great photographs, you need to be aware of the key selling points of your flat. Try not to take close ups of specific locations, or have no focal point in the pictures. Aim to take wide, spacious pictures that capture a key component of the house, such as the living room or the kitchen.
Consider a fresh paint
We may not notice it, but after years of comfortable and happy living in our home, our paint may have faded over time. A dull, faded painting can cause our house to look darker (remember, lighting is key) and old. While a fresh paint may cost us a sum of money, the returns are likely to be well worth it.
Add some fragrance
Something that most people forget about is the smell of their home. While our homes may not smell bad to us, certain smells may put potential buyers off.
Lighting a candle or putting up some diffusers can greatly improve the overall viewing experience of the potential buyer. It will definitely give them a good impression of the place.
Make minor repairs
Minor scratches on the wall or chips in the furnishing may not be much. However, things like mouldy wood, leaking wood from under basin and damaged window grills may be potential deal-breakers for our buyers.
Although most repairs should be borne by the buyer (since they may want to replace it at all), a well cared house can give buyers the impression that the flat is a high value asset.
Furthermore, buyers who are willing to pay higher in order not to renovate will take note of these minor details. It will definitely be deal-breakers for these people.
Keep it cool
You want your buyers to enjoy and take their time to observe and view the house in its entirety. A hot and humid house may cause them to want to leave quickly before they even manage to get any impression of the place.
Turn on the air-conditioner should you have one available in the common area. Otherwise, keep the windows wide open and turn on the fans as much as possible. Keep it cool!
I want to sell my house urgently
While the above tips may be useful for helping to sell your house fast, it may not be enough to help you sell your house as quickly as you might want to. Cleaning up, making repairs, taking photographs and marketing it to potential buyers takes a lot of time. Simply deciding what needs to be done and making arrangements can take from days to months.
It is better to engage an experienced real estate agent that knows exactly how to market your flat by leveraging on its strengths. They have an extensive pool of networks that allows them to market your flat to a variety of interested and keen buyers. A helpful and experience real estate agent can make the process significantly better.