Top Tips for Selling an Apartment versus a House.
Posted: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
by David Brydon
BCN Rentals
Selling an apartment in today's market can present many more problems than selling a stand-alone property such as a house. Here are a few tips to conquer those possible hiccups and go through with a smooth sale.
There is an abundance of information in books, on the internet, in magazines for selling your home equally for buying a home, and what tricks to look out for, meaning that today's buyer and seller have to keep one step ahead of the game. Many of the tips and hints you can find online will tell you to mow your lawn, get rid of those weeds, and slap a coat of paint or creosote to your outside fencing, as first impressions last.
First of all, let's tackle that first impressions thing as it's so true. If your apartment is a step above your neighbours in everything from decoration to appliances, from light sources to mod cons, there's absolutely nothing you can do if the communal areas to access your apartment are grubby and grimy. If you really think this will have an effect on a potential buyer, then you can suggest to the community of neighbours that a renovation might be in order. Now, as you may well be the only person interested in investing this small amount of money for a bigger return (i.e the sale) you may be greeted with a frosty reception. So there are two ways to tackle this. One is to either fork up and pay for either just your part of the building/hallway which is in need of repair, or to suggest you paint and repair the whole staircase either cheaply, or at a financed way though a building administrator an interest free loan to the community on your behalf if you like. This may not always work, but it's an option if the first impressions thing is holding a lot of people back.
One of the biggest and most important factors when selling an apartment is of course the images you will give prospective buyers. It's OK to hang a "For Sale" sign outside your 6 th or 56 th floor balcony but it's not the same as an actual house having that sign, seen by pedestrians, motorists and practically anyone else who passes by your freshly-painted fence and recently mowed lawn! So agencies and any private internet sites you can advertise your own property on will also need great images. The old adage of "a picture sells a thousand words" really rings true here. Just think about it, if you have no front of house, you need to do your best by selling the apartment through the photos.
Sometimes it's better to pay for a professional, and some agencies will want to take their own photos, too. Given that you may speak to 5 or 6 different agencies over the course of a week or so, it's better to have an answer and confirm that you have high quality photos for them to use. It's important to clear the apartment of any clutter, and make the settings neutral, like you would see on hotel websites, or vacation apartment websites. This may not be completely impossible, as there will always be signs on an apartment being "lived in" but think about little things don't leave half a roll of toilet paper and 3 used toothbrushes in the bathroom take out some new, folded towels, polish the mirrors and make the taps sparkle. It will be worth the effort to have some eye catching images for prospective clients to view. Half your work is done this way they may want a viewing based on the great photos.
It's often a good idea to look with a critical eye over other apartments for sale you will see things that the owners hadn't thought about, as it's been their home for so long! Half empty laundry baskets, a scruffy dog basket, that wonky cupboard door that they've been meaning to fix. Try taking some photos of your own apartment and ask a colleague or friend to have an objective look you may well be surprised at things you have seen a million times, and they may pull you up on. These are great free tips from other "potential buyers" without doing any work!
Remember, selling an apartment is completely different to selling a home with it's own land be that a yard, a garden, a pool, whatever. So it's up to you to ensure you can entice them into your apartment block, and then once through the door, they have a pleasant experience as possible through the stairwell or elevator as possible before reaching their new home your apartment for sale!
David Brydon has been living in Barcelona, Spain for 10 years and writes for Luxury Barcelona Real Estate Agents Modus Vivendi, who have a wide portfolio of Long Term Rentals in Barcelona too.
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