Selling a property like many things in life starts with perception. A good property can have everything going for it, but with negative perception it’ll remain on the shelf gathering dust like a 40 year virgin.

 

However, introduce a splash of cologne here, some new threads there and a resurrected confidence and suddenly your investment has an ever widening black book of numbers and a dazzling disco strut.

 

So, check out these six tips that will help turn your stuttering singleton in to regular Don Juan:

 

 

1:  Clean it up:

 

Dirty doorstep? Start scrubbing! Weeds breaking through the pavement like acne? Dig them out! A passing drunk sprawled a penis over the wall with a marker pen?…Well scrub some more! Whatever basic maintenance you can do for both the outside of your property and the pavement it overlooks, do.

 

If you’ve not used a power hose yet, you’d be surprised how effective they are to clean literally everything they touch. You’ve heard of weedkiller, so get your arse down to B&Q. 

 

Make sure you use the advantage of natural daylight to keep the interior airy and light. Make sure all your windows are clean and clutter free when showing tenants round. Remove any flecks of paint, hand smears and ensure any cracked panels are replaced.

 

The importance of natural light is suprisngly simple as our minds naturally link the concept of hope and positivity with it. Interior designers and architects have been using this principle for years when creating meeting spaces for large corporations, as productivity has been proven to increase when we feel positive and capable.

 

 

With the exception of owls and vampires, natural light is something we all enjoy and it’s one of the best marketing tools you have, so make sure your property has lots of it.

 

These are just basic pre-requisites you’ll need to work at. Remember, before you use your hands to take cash off your new tenants, get used to the idea you’ll have to put them to work first. The ‘Landlord from Hell’ stereotype doesn’t come from the thin air we all wish it did, but rather the neglect of dusty sofas, grimy walls and bathroom mould.

 

 

2:  Lovable means liveable:

 

Selling empty space may work for someone who owns a warehouse or a plot of land, in fact it’s pretty much the whole point, but when someone can visualise tumbleweed or a passing breeze in the bare photo you’ve taken better than their family, you’re relying on their imagination a little too much!

 

It’s important to help your potential tenant visualise themselves living there. Even if furniture is for staging purposes only, consider a stain free comfortable looking sofa, a coffee table and maybe a cosy throw here and there. Think about warm, peaceful colours like green and orange and resist red or black. Think large cushions with a simple tidy layout.

 

 

Tables with a flowers or bowls of fruit, chopping boards and jars of rice/grains in the kitchen, even personalised accessories like fridge magnets or reminders on a note board. Just think ‘personal’ and aim to help your tenants visualise themselves really settling in to your property.

 

 

3: Toast of the town:

 

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of this already, but it’s a proven fact that the cosy aroma of toasted bread increases the likelihood of a signed contract when showing a potential tenant round your property.

 

Why? Because it’s evocative of warmth, homeliness and comfort in a way that fag buts and stale Fosters isn’t. Seriously try this one simple trick and you’ll be surprised.

 

 

 

4.  Get snappy:

 

Again, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that photos taken with a basic smart phone without decent lighting conditions (especially if it’s dark outside) doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in your property. We can’t emphasise enough how important good photography is.

 

At Arch we use a Sony SLR camera with a few basic lighting devices and we make sure the photos are taken at the right time of day. Avoid like the plague a 4pm shoot in the middle of December or an evening photo. Houses in the middle of the night may appeal to burglars or the spirit’s of the recently deceased, but not potential clients. 

 

 

Ever thought about a 360 degree view of your property? At Arch we market all our properties with Matterport technology that allows someone to take a virtual walk through of a home in every room, all with high res 360 degree view points.

 

We’ve found it to be an invaluable tool to inspire confidence in a property, especially during lockdown where property visits were restricted. Take a look at one of our Matterport videos here.

 

 

5: Dish of the day:

 

Ever read a food menu and found yourself drawn to the ‘chef’s recommendations’ or ‘dish of the day’ specials? That’s because the decision making process has been partly done for you, and by nature we favour something that comes recommended as it inspires trust.

 

So when listing your property on any portal consider premium listings. Not only do they stand out visually, but they carry with them a degree of trust which means more enquiries and a greater chance of landing the right tenant. 

 

 

 

6.  Get their attention:

 

We’re not entirely sure how many estate agents in the UK have their own creative department, but there’s a fair chance it’s not many. Back in early November of 2019 we did just that at Arch Living in order to throw a spotlight our properties in a way that other agencies didn’t, and still don’t.

 

One of our main streams of advertising takes the form of animated tours for a specific property we have on the market at that time. By combining lush photography with a catchy introduction and text slides we're able to communicate all the selling points of a propety in an attractive way and with Facebook ad targeting get it out to a large audience all over Leicester.

 

Throw in some ceative copy writing and our Matterport viewing tech, and we guarantee maximum exposure for all our Landlords. Off course this type of work can be done in a DIY fashion but be prepared to set aside time to learn new software and the creative ropes before you get going.

 

And there you have it, six ways any property investor can improve the chances of letting their property. If you’d like to learn a little more on how we can do all of the above for you and save you money and time, just call us on 0116 2706699 or email us at sales@archliving.co.uk!