Do-it-Yourself (DIY)

As the name implies, this method describes a seller doing the job of the real estate agent, who takes on the tasks of marketing and advertising a property as well as introducing and arranging for prospective buyers to inspect a home. DIY also requires the private seller to negotiate a price tag on their home with prospective buyers and then finally arranging the Deed of Sale with the buyer and organising legal and financial arrangements for the transfer of the property.

a) How much is my property worth?

Investigate the current price of houses 'For Sale' in your neighborhood and compare your house to theirs. Check prices in local papers and Estate Agent windows. Are there any additional items or improvements that would add value to your property? These may include conservatories, new fitted kitchens, an extra garage, etc. If you want a 'quick sale' you may need to lower your price slightly and if you are in no hurry, try increasing the price a little so that you have some bargaining power with the prospective buyer.

Ask neighbors that have recently moved into the area what they paid for their property

A chartered surveyor will value your property for a fee and the suggested price will probably be close to the figure that the prospective buyer's surveyor will give the property. See the LINKS section for contact details for local surveyors.

b) Tips for Your Property Advert?

Your property advert is your golden opportunity to show off the best aspects of your home to attract serious enquiries from potential buyers and encourage 'viewing visits' to your property.

Photos, PHOTOS, Photos . . .

No Photos? . . . would you bay a property if you hadn't seen any photos of it?

Our research shows that photos are one of the most important methods of attracting enquiries. Photos give the buyer a good visual idea of why your property is worth a visit for viewing and the more photos you offer, the better the quality and quantity of enquiries you will receive - in a competitive market it may be just the advantage that you need - and remember, it could be that fantastic Kitchen or spacious Bathroom that eventually sells your property so choose and snap your photos wisely. For some great tips on taking the best quality photos of your home see our PHOTOS FAQ.

Remember that you can display up to 9 photos with your advert.

Details, Details, DETAILS . . .

It's all in the fine detail . . . . isn't it?

Property details are important and you should not underestimate the importance of small details such as room sizes (be as accurate as possible with any sizes you include). Buyers may use room sizes just to check that the large couch or 4 poster bed will fit in. Again, the more informative and more detailed your ad, the better the quality of enquiries you will receive.

Remember that buyers are familiar with the level of detail supplied by estate agent property leaflets - you need to try and reproduce that with your property advert.

For ideas on the format of your advert, see our SAMPLE ADVERT or any previous estate agent details that may be available for your house or a similar local property. Include useful additional information such as no transfer duty, municipal rates, water rates and if you live in a flat, any service charges and ground rent. Potential buyers will also be interested in local information such as schools, shops, parks, doctors/dentists, etc.

And what about Filling In The Forms . . .

Well its easy to say 'as much detail as possible' but I'll be logged on for ages just filling in the registration forms?

It's best to do the detail work off-line. Type the details out in a word processing program on you computer before you log on and then use the 'copy' and 'paste' functions to fill in the registration form. You can also use our PRINT FORM page to remind you of the details that you'll need . . . and if you get stuck at the registration page . . . don't panic . . . you can also CONTACT us directly to fill in the forms for you at no extra charge - just send us your details by email or fax.

Also, always remember that you can also edit their advert on-line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using our secure User Number and Password system. So its easy to correct, modify or even add more detail to your advert even after you have registered.

c) The FOR SALE Board

But why do I need a 'For Sale Board' when everyone can see my property on the Internet?

Your best advertising asset is your property itself. Use a For Sale Board to advertise to all those potential buyers who simply pass by your property every day or don't have the opportunity to surf the net. Simply said, a For Sale Board will be a major source of interest in your property and could more than double the number of enquiries.

If you erect a goprivate.co.za For Sale Board on your property, then potential buyers will able to receive esential details of your property by sending an SMS with your Ad number to 34790. They will receive an SMS message containing your property details and a link to your ad on the internet. This SMS link can be followed from there mobile phone to display pictures and more details of the property. From there they can contact you via email. For more details on the For Sale Board please click HERE.

Please note that current Dept. of Environment regulations state that you are only allowed to have a single 'For Sale' board outside your property at any given time

d) The On Show day

Be Prepared - First impressions can 'sell your property within the first minute'

Fix everything - make sure everything works correctly. Replace blown light bulbs and don't forget to check outdoor lights and the doorbell at the front door.

Check the outside of the house to make sure that the potential buyer gets the right impression - cut hedges, touch up the paint work, mown the lawn, sweep the paths, etc. A well cared for property is much more likely to sell faster than a neglected one. If you need a local contractor to repair plumbing or electrics, or perhaps a painter then see our LINKS DIRECTORY section.

Tidy up inside - Messy and cluttered rooms 'look smaller than they really are'

Create the impression of space. Well ordered and tidy rooms will help to give the property a spacious feel that should impress any potential buyer. Have a tape measure to hand, just in case your visitor wants to check an important dimension. Note that the Kitchen and Bathroom are often points of focus for a prospective purchaser.

Smell good and sound good - Those 'little extra touches' can make all the difference

Smell is one of the most important senses to the human body. A few drops of lemon oil in water can make all the difference to the first impressions of a visitor to your home. Coffee aroma or baking in the kitchen and calming lavender or pot pourri in the bedroom can all help to create a positive feeling towards the house. Fresh flowers can also be helpful in creating the right impression.

Soft music can create a subtle background effect that can help to relax your visitors. Don't forget to turn the TV off whilst you are showing people around.

Consider the season - the 'correct temperature' is always important to your visitor. Fresh air in the summer and warmth in the winter.

Documentation - have additional property information to hand for your potential buyer. Use our printer friendly interface to print custom documents for your visitors to take home.

Your visitor may ask questions about the council rates or annual electricity bills, so have recent bills to hand and any receipts and guarantees for recent work undertaken on the property e.g. double glazing, damp proof, etc.

Security - do you know who your visitor is?

Only allow viewings by prior arrangement and always ensure that you at least have the name and phone number of your potential buyer before they visit the property - you can use the pretext that you will need to contact them to confirm their viewing time. It is also a good idea to ask for their home post code. Ask how many people will visit the property. You can check the phone number by phoning it back, looking it up in the phone book or check it out with Directory Enquiries

If you live on you own, consider asking a friend or neighbour to be present during the visit of the potential buyer and remember not to leave valuables or jewellery within easy reach when showing people around.

Get organised - what about the big moving day?

Moving house can be one of the most stressful experiences in a person's life. Get organised in good time to help reduce tension levels. If you need a local Removals Company then see our LINKS DIRECTORY. See the goprivate.co.za MOVING CHECKLIST for a useful guide and tick list for the countdown to the big day.