Planning your early 2016 property auction listing

Making your property stand out, and giving it the best possible chance to sell in early 2016, relies on smart preparation now. 

Getting your property sale ready can be the difference between securing an ordinary price and that great price. 

While you might only sell your home every decade or so, it is all too often left to the last panicked days to set things right.

All at the most stressful of times especially if you have bought and need to sell.

Unlike the past, buyers these days can be found almost all year round, though with the slowest sales period still being over the early days of the new year.

But the internet makes the marketing easier, so that buyers can spot the offering well in advance of the signboard going up at the property after the summer break.

This option of signalling a forthcoming February auction is a wise move.

Especially as there will be a few keen expatriates buyers back in Sydney over the Christmas break, who might just want to sign up then and there.

I sense in most years the early bird typically catches the worm, so listing for February auction (and also early spring September auction) stands the offering in better stead given its before the oversupply deluge that comes around at Easter (and late November).

The time required to sell property that is accurately priced to meet the market will vary anywhere between two and eight weeks, and in many cases as soon as the listing agent lets the listing be known to their data base. After all agents should have buyers on their books who have missed out on homes over recent weeks in the lead up to Christmas.

Prior to placing your property on the market, allow two weeks to prepare the marketing and legal material.

Presentation of your property is critical in achieving the highest price, starting with street precence. 

Staging can be done by professionals or yourself by simply decluttering and placing furniture to maximize the feelings of space and light throughout your home, with a smart eye to how the rooms flow into each other.

Be sure all the potential turn offs for buyers have been acted on including no animal odours in the house; removal of stained carpets and damp in the walls, along with fixing the cracked glass and doors that stick.

I reckon you should also think ahead - even if you aren't an immediate likely seller.

Especially when it comes to understanding just when your house and garden look the best.

During 2016 start noting when the sun makes the key rooms that bit extra special. That's when you'd ideally like to schedule the open for inspections and onsite auction.

Do the same in the garden - taking photos before the last jacaranda falls this season - so that your eventual marketing can show the garden year round. Maybe not within the major marketing, but showing the garden will work on facebook and twitter.

Best don't include the Christmas decorations in any marketing photos - as that is just naff especially if it is still for sale long after Santa has been.

This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.