If you have a home overseas and you want to get rid of it, this article will show you how to sell your property abroad as quickly and as well as possible.
As a property owner who wants to get rid of a home abroad, this means that you need to work hard to sell quickly and as well as possible. The good news is that there are ways and means for making your property as attractive as possible so that you stand the best chance of getting a good and quick sale.
Ho to sell your property abroad
Finish what you start
In this environment, buyers don’t need to have an imagination – therefore you need to finish up any DIY jobs you’ve started and don’t rush the finish.
Pay attention to doing a good job – and if you don’t heed this advice, don’t expect your potential buyer to pay the asking price. By not finishing what you start, you’re giving your buyer carte blanche to haggle hard on price.
Clean up
No one imagines themselves living in a hovel and so your buyer will want to see a very clean home that they can make their own – even if they turn it into a pigsty as soon as they move in. So, clean your house.
Present a blank canvas
Buyer’s need to be made to feel that they can make your home their home – so get rid of family photos, all those bits and pieces you have personalised the property with, and present as neutral a canvas as you can.
Clear out
Space sells, so cut back on the furniture and furnishing, knickknacks and accessories you have filling up your property abroad. Pack up your excess stuff and move it out.
First impressions count
The first impression your buyer will have will be of the outside of your property – so, is your paintwork neat, are your shutters free from peeling paint, are your rubbish and recycling bins out of sight, is your garden neat and is your pool clean? Details, details. They all count.
Make the most of your best features
What is it about your property abroad that makes it stand out? Is it the view, the location, the great pool or the high-quality kitchen? Whatever makes your home stand out from the crowd, market that to the best of your ability.
Define the space
Are you currently using a bedroom as a storeroom? Well, change it into a cosy guest bedroom. Do you have a dining table crammed into the kitchen making space seem much smaller? Get rid of it. Clearly define each room so that a buyer can see what they are getting for their money.
Market the lifestyle
You bought a second home abroad for the lifestyle. Even if your property is an investment property, you bought it for the lifestyle. Why? Because it’s an investment because you can rent it out to those seeking the lifestyle it offers.
So, explain to buyers what they can enjoy from your property – the sunshine, the laid back pace of life, the stunning views, the joy of having a getaway abroad. Don’t make your buyer have to work too hard to imagine it – sell it to them, put the lifestyle on a plate and serve it up.
Attack the sales process from multiple angles
Put your overseas property on for sale with multiple agents, get it on the Internet, hand out flyers and post it on your social networking pages. Tell anyone who helps you sell it that they’re in for a reward (maybe an extra 0.1% for an estate agent, or a £50 bonus for a friend?) Incentivise others to help you sell and work hard at getting your property noticed.
Be as flexible as possible
Finally, because money is tight, borrowing is difficult and times are tough, you need to be able to be as flexible as possible on price, buying terms, viewing times and so on. In other words, to sell your home abroad you need to be as flexible as you possibly can be.
You might find useful
- The Essential Guide To Cost-Effective International Removals – how to save money and time when organising your overseas removals;
- Overcoming The Main Challenges Of Living Abroad – how to adapt to your new country and make it home;
- Visit our home page for a comprehensive range of Living Abroad guides.