How to choose a property to sell?

One of an estate agent's main tasks is to find a new owner for a flat, house or plot as quickly as possible and to sell the property at the best possible price. However, not all properties are equally easy to find a new owner for. As agents, we should be able to judge which property is worth our effort and which is better left alone. In today's article we suggest which properties are worth taking on for sale and which are better avoided.

Assessing the potential of a property for sale depends on many factors. Above all, the agent must know the local market and know what is currently in greatest demand. In addition, the location of the property, the infrastructure around it and, of course, the price are all very important. There is no factor that makes a sale harder than a price that is out of line with the quality of the property.

We must also remember that a property is at its most attractive during the first 3 weeks after it is put up for sale. This means that it is very important to choose the right marketing strategy for the given flat or house from the very first days it is put on the market.

What makes selling a property harder?

As estate agents, we must be alert to several important issues before we take on the sale of a particular property. Any unresolved legal matters and various kinds of debts can certainly be a sign that finding a new owner for the property will be hard. The presence of a mortgage is also not insignificant. Several different co-owners of the property can also be an obstacle, especially if they do not agree on selling the property or, worse still, there is a conflict between them over it.

An unattractive location of the flat or house will also be a hindrance, as will a price out of line with quality that the owner does not want to negotiate. The owner themselves can also make selling a property harder. Many people are not mentally ready to part with their flat but are unable to say so out loud. Instead they express it in quite a different way, for example by questioning the agent's proposals or by refusing to lower an excessively high price. They pile up obstacles just to prevent the transaction from going ahead. As estate agents we must be alert to such behaviour, and when we notice it, start an open conversation.

Should we take on the sale of every property?

As estate agents we can decide which property sales we will get involved in. Of course, we do not have to take on everything that comes along. It is not even advisable. Before we start working with a given client, it is worth weighing up all the pros and cons. Let's check the legal and financial status of the property, get to know the client and their expectations better, and check whether they are open to our proposals. We also do not always have to give up when a property turns out to be difficult in some respect. Most challenges can be overcome, so if interesting ideas come to mind for turning a flat's or house's possible shortcomings into assets, or we see opportunities to sell a particular property to a narrow target group, it is always worth trying. The key to success in this situation is to match our strength to our ambitions. Let's also remember to be 100% honest with the client. If we see no chance of selling the property, it is always better to say so plainly and give the reasons than to get involved in cooperation of this kind.