SELLING YOUR HOME. Your Complete Guide WWW.REAOCM.IE 1
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THANK YOU FOR MEETING REA O CONNOR MURPHY ABOUT SELLING YOUR PROPERTY We re delighted you got in touch. Should you select REA O Connor Murphy as your selling team, we ll make it our business to make the process as easy, friendly, efficient and timely as possible. We know selling can be a daunting thing. That s why we make it very simple - bringing it back to what it s really about: getting your property the very best exposure and, most importantly, the very best price. You ll find us very knowledgeable, friendly, always approachable and willing to go the extra mile. It starts with this book: Here we set out the steps in the process; what you need before going forward with a sale, and how to make your house looking its best for selling. After that, you can let us do the rest! REA O CONNOR MURPHY Hibernian House, Henry Street, Limerick e: info@reaocm.ie WWW.REAOCM.IE 3
REA O CONNOR MURPHY MEANS YOU GET MAXIMUM EXPOSURE Connect with our Registered Buyers Nationwide O Connor Murphy is part of Real Estate Alliance (REA), which has 55 offices nationwide and over 450 staff. So whether you re buying or selling, you ll have comprehensive coverage you can count on. We may already have a potential buyer for your property registered on our Email Alert System! Reach multiple buyers online via multiple websites www.rea.ie receives over 50,000 unique visitors every month. www.myhome.ie has 1.24 million unique users per month. www.daft.ie is seen by over 2.2 million unique visitors every month. www.rightmove.co.uk is consulted by over 45,000 unique visitors from the UK every month looking at Irish property. www.zoopla.co.uk with 40,000 unique visitors per month, Zoopla is now expanding it s Irish property division - and REA is the only national group that shows all its available property on Zoopla. Newspaper exposure Local exposure in your local paper, National exposure in many of the national titles. On-line Marketing & Exposure We vigoursly promote properties on-line: Linked In; Facebook; Instagram and various on-line marketing platforms. REA Classic Homes REA produces a Classic Homes brochure, a publication which showcases Ireland s most desirable homes, and is seen by Irish and international buyers. Presenting your property Our brochure templates present your property in the most favourable light and illustrate the true benefits of your property to the buyer. Additional options are available whereby you can avail of our professional photography service and various personalised marketing platforms our agent would be happy to go through in detail with you in addition to our high quality printed brochures. International Exposure REA holds overseas property expos each year in the most important markets, including the UK and the United States. We held a property expo in NYC in 2016 and Boston in 2017, and are planning another one in New York for 2018. 4
OUR TEAM: ON YOUR SIDE REA O Connor Murphy is one of the best-known estate agents in the market, established in 1990 by Michael O Connor and we provide all aspects of residential and commercial property services for private, corporate and multinational clients, many of whom turn to us time and time again. We pride ourselves in the high quality and integrity of or service; helping clients to make the most informed decisions on property matters. All our staff are highly trained and qualified and are, of course, crucial to our success. Back Row left to right Darren Benson Hazel Noone Donna Benson Brigid Downes Niamh Barry Deirdre O Brien Front Row left to right Coleen O Rahilly Elaine Fitzpatrick Niamh Keane Hilary Clien Michael O Connor WWW.REAOCM.IE 5
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OUR SELLING PROCESS: SIMPLE, DIRECT, FRIENDLY 1. Qualified means quality Instruct a qualified Chartered Surveyor & Estate Agent to value and market your property. 2. Information we need to give you the best possible advice: Professional survey and measurement of the property Photographic shoot of the property Title check - Freehold Leasehold (Tenancy, if relevant) Site plan / planning Review inventory 3. Agree asking price and value We inspect your property and advise you of the approximate opinion of value & suggested asking price. 4. Choosing a method of sale Private Treaty, Public Auction or Sale by Tender. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. We discuss the most suitable for your particular property & advise you of our recommended best option. 5. Property Contract We exchange the property services agreement with you and your legal representative, if you wish, to ensure that everything is in order. 6. Professional Fee We agree and confirm our sale fee (plus V.A.T.), payable in the event of a successful sale. There is also an additional listing/outlay cost, for registration and marketing. 7. Marketing Campaign We prepare a marketing campaign specifically tailored to your property. 8. BER Certificate A BER Cert is simply an energy label for your home. The label has a scale of A-G. BER Certificate is compulsory. We can assist you in organising this. 9. Your Solicitor The agent will advise you to instruct the solicitor to ensure title deeds have been taken up, contracts have been prepared, consent for sale from mortgage institution (if any) has been received, planning documents are in order, Family Home Protection Act Declaration (if necessary) has been completed and the property has a valid BER Certificate. 10. Prepare your property for viewing See our tips on the following pages. We ll advise on how best to prepare your property for viewing. 11. Reporting We keep you updated on all interest shown in your property. 12. Completion We seek a booking deposit from the proposed purchasers (subject to contract) once we secure agreement on a potential sale. Your solicitor and the proposed purchase purchaser s solicitor will receive heads of terms from us on the proposed sale. Contracts are then sent by your Solicitor to the proposed purchaser s Solicitors, signed and the balance (if any) of the deposit is paid. A completion date is agreed and the transaction is duly finalised by your Solicitor. WWW.REAOCM.IE 7
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ADDITIONAL INITATIVES Give your property the edge From floor plans to virtual tours, our design service can really help to flesh out just what your house has to offer, opening up potential and aiding quicker decision-making from buyers. HOUSE PLAN SERVICE Providing: 3 D floor plans Picture Plus floor plans Voiced, walk through videos of your property Speak to an agent. WWW.REAOCM.IE 9
WHAT YOU LL NEED IF YOU DECIDE TO SELL The documents every seller needs... Prior to placing your property on the market we will require the following documents which we can collect from you when we meet to take details of your property: Check List: Signed Property Service Agreement (PSRA) BER Certificate Anti-Money Laundering documentation (Copy of Photo ID & Recent Utility Bill) Key(s) & Alarm Code Solicitors Details Details of Current service charges and the name and contact details for the Management Company (if applicable) List of contents, fixtures and fittings that are to be included in the sale of your property. 10
ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS... A Property Service Agreement (PRSA) As a legal requirement, it is necessary to sign and return the PSRA to us. You ll find one in our Welcome Pack. It s not as bad as it looks! Valid BER We can arrange for one to be carried out on your behalf, if you do not already have one. WWW.REAOCM.IE 11
SELLING SUCCESS Making an impression with your home... It s important to look at your home through the eye of a prospective purchaser. Improvements should be made on the basis that the property looks & shows well. Cosmetic improvements can help reveal a property s true potential... Some simple tips Outside As with everything in life, first impressions are very important. So start at the front gate. 1. Clear gutters. 2. Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds and prune. back bushes. 3. Mow the lawn. 4. Replace damaged roof tiles. 5. If the driveway is tarmac - blacken the surface. 6. Keep garage door closed. 7. Paint front door, fascia, sills and window frames, if required. 8. Remove moss from driveway. 12
Inside 1. Remove clutter and create a blank canvass for potential buyers. It s important to create a feeling of space, so clear away the clutter. 2. Make sure your home is clean and tidy. Clear obstacles around the house, tidy away toys and remove laundry. Remove dated furniture and keep counter tops clear. 3. If you do decide some rooms do need to be painted then this isn t the time to experiment. Stay neutral with a palette of creams and off whites! Neutral colours help to brighten a home and give it a fresh look. They re also really passive and so allow the buyer to imagine your home in their chosen palette. 4. Create light. Replace burned-out light bulbs, turn on lamps and allow light to enter the house by opening blinds and curtains. 5. Replace cracked window panes. 6. Repair dripping taps and showerheads. If there is one room in the house that needs to be spotless it s your bathroom. WWW.REAOCM.IE 13
ROOM BY ROOM We ll advise you on how best to make your property more appealing, but here are a few starters... KITCHENS Spruce it up A few simple and inexpensive steps can make all the difference. If your kitchen looks tired, have a look at more current design trends, and pick up some new handles that would fit in place of your existing ones. If there is the odd tile broken, or missing, replace it. A homely aroma You ve heard it said, and it works: baking bread and brewing coffee makes your house smell like home already. A clean kitchen Is your kitchen clean really clean? The last thing you want is a buyer placing their hand on a sticky surface. Be scrupulous. Also, remove any clutter and unnecessary objects. No pets please Avoid having pets around when showing your home, particularly in the kitchen. Remove all trace of animals: food bowls, beds and toys. Repaint... it will be worth it Calm, not work Don t have the washing machine running: you want your kitchen to project style and calm, not the everyday of chores to be done. LIVING ROOMS Give it zest The living room is key for the viewer, and it s one of the easiest to make an impression with. Have carpets and soft furnishings professionally cleaned. Replace any shabby carpeting, re-stain wooden floors that have faded. You can easily freshen things up with a new throw or rug. Colours talk Pale or neutral colours will appeal much more to the imagination of the potential buyers, while strong colours may be off putting. It s an expense, but, if necessary, repaint...it will be worth it. A picture paints... Choose your wall art carefully. If it s too large it can make a small room smaller. Brighter images will help rooms with little natural light. Remove family photographs for the duration. The mood lightened Lighting can make a huge difference. Think about replacing old-style, centrallyhung lights that have bulbs showing, with more modern fittings. Smaller, secondary lighting sich as desk lights can have a transformative effect. TV has its place Don t make the television the focus of the room. Move it to a more discreet place. 14
BEDROOMS BATHROOMS Keep it bright Keep bedroom decor bright and neutral. Off-whites, pale yellows and creams are open colours; pinks and purples less so. Fresh as a daisy That musty smell is dust. Deep clean all bedrooms and remember to open windows, pre-viewing. The promise of luxury Make bedrooms all about the viewer. Remove personal items, cosmetics and toiletries, keeping everything minimalist. It s the hotel room you d like to walk into. What s the storage like? Storage is one of the key reasons people want to move up. Be ruthless about clearing your cupboards out, leaving just the bare minimum. You ll feel better too! Spare = space Don t use your spare room as the dumping ground to make everywhere else look good! Clear it out, and make it a fully functioning bedroom. If you ve been using it as an office, you can make a positive of that too, but keep it clean and clear, with files and papers packed away nicely. A new shower curtain and matching towels will transform the mood Sparkling clean Your bathroom must be squeaky clean. You can remove stains on toilet bowls with caustic soda. Curtains and blinds should be dust free. Remember, nowadays, carpet is considered unhygenic - consider replacing this with tiles. Create space The less you have in the bathroom, the more spacious it appears. Remove all clutter, keep toiletries to the bare minimum, and preferably in the cabinet. Tile style Bleach old and tired tiles, and replace grubby or gappy grout. You might consider replacing tiles altogether - or even increasing the amount: tiles will add a feeling of space to a small bathroom. Finishing touches Simple changes like new taps or a shiny new shower head can make a huge difference. A new shower curtain and matching towels will transform the mood. Finally, make sure your bathroom is warm for the viewing. WWW.REAOCM.IE 15
O CONNOR MURPHY 16 REA O CONNOR MURPHY Hibernian House, Henry Street, Limerick e: info@reaocm.ie PSR No. 001988 WWW.REAOCM.IE