Beating the competition to sell your home

Posted: 20 Jul 2007 11:04:43 GMT

New research shows that there are fewer people looking to a buy a property at the moment, which means competition among sellers is heating up.

New research shows that there are fewer people looking to a buy a property at the moment, which means competition among sellers is heating up.

In light of this, Nationwide Building Society has published a list of tips for sellers to make sure that their property is pressing all the right buttons.

Although the type of property a buyer is looking for will undoubtedly be one of the most important factors, there are some slight changes that can be made to ensure a house is as appealing as it can be.

Nationwide urges sellers to start by tidying up ahead of a viewing, with 55 per cent of potential buyers saying they are put off by a messy home.

Politeness is also advised, with tackling DIY disasters and fixing fence panels recommended too.

"Higher interest rates and the resulting reduction in new buyers visiting estate agents continue to put further pressure on homeowners who are looking to sell," said Katie Harper from Nationwide.

"While there is no evidence to suggest that these top tips would command a higher price, sellers might find they come in useful when they do manage to encourage potential buyers to view their property."

Research by the Building Society Association showed that mortgage lending fell from £6.046 billion in May to £4.693 billion in June.

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