How to get your property sold

# Four essentials to sell your property

Presentation details like freshly baked cookies or a bowl of lemons help open doors, but they won't make up for mistakes on fundamentals. If you want a faster sale and a better price, focus on four areas that drive outcomes: the agent you choose, the sales method, the asking price, and the marketing strategy.

1. Choose your agent wisely

Not all agents produce the same results. Don't pick by the highest appraisal or the lowest commission alone. Meet several agents in person and evaluate:

• recent sales of properties like yours
• local market knowledge and references
• how they explain their strategy and back price recommendations with comparable sales
• communication style — you need someone you can work with during negotiations

Tip: the cheapest agent is the one who gets you the best net price, even if their commission is higher.

2. Choose the most appropriate method of sale

There are multiple sales methods: auction, private sale, expressions of interest, tender, sale by negotiation, or off-market campaigns. Each suits different conditions:

• Auction: creates urgency and competition when multiple buyers are likely
• Private sale: offers time and flexibility for negotiation and conditional offers
• Off-market: preserves privacy but limits buyer exposure

Match the method to the property's price point, location and the buyer profile. An experienced local agent should justify why one method fits better than another rather than using the same approach for every listing.

3. Set the right asking price

Price is one of the single biggest determinants of outcome. Mistakes are costly in both directions:

• too low: you may leave money on the table
• too high: the property can go stale and buyers will overlook it

Start with recent, genuinely comparable sales in the area — similar location, land size, condition and appeal. Unsold listing prices tell you little about what buyers will pay. Consider an independent valuation if you want a second professional opinion. When calculating your target net, allow for:

• agent commission
• marketing expenses
• conveyancing and transaction costs
• any pre-sale repair or presentation work

4. Market to the right buyers

Effective marketing highlights the property's strongest features and reaches the demographic most likely to compete for it. A broad campaign can be wasted if the wrong audience sees the listing. Practical considerations:

• identify the buyer type (first-home buyer, downsizer, investor, family) and tailor messaging
• use photos and descriptions that show the property's benefits honestly
• choose channels that that audience uses rather than blasting everywhere

Styling and staging help first impressions, but strategy — agent choice, price, sales method and targeted marketing — will have far greater impact on the final price.

Practical next steps

1. 1Interview at least three agents and ask for comparable recent results.
2. 2Request a clear, written sales plan explaining method, timeline and marketing channels.
3. 3Research recent comparable sales and consider an independent valuation.
4. 4Decide on the sales method that suits likely buyers and current market conditions.
5. 5Build a focused marketing campaign aimed at the buyer demographic most likely to value your property.

Focusing on these four areas will improve your chances of selling quickly and for a better price. Presentation details can support the sale, but they won't replace shortcomings in agent selection, pricing, sales method or marketing.