As an agent, you will come into contact with sellers who need to sell NOW. Whether they have come into financial difficulty or a family break up, some sellers need their property on the market the moment the listing agreement is signed.

So, how do you ensure you effectively market and sell the property while meeting your seller’s tight timeframe?

Write a list
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so write down your tasks and prioritise them. From here, you can physically do the work and tick the items on the list off one by one. Your list might include property photography, open for inspection schedule, reviewing your selling campaign etc.

Preparing for the best result
Ensure the property is appealing to all buyers to ensure you get more people interested and willing to put an offer on the property. Whether it be a neutral coat of paint, clearing the gutters, or styling the property for sale – ensure the property has the potential to attract a wide audience.

Outsource
You want the sale of the property to be quick, but effective. Outsourcing tasks that professionals can complete will ensure things are done quickly and properly. Whether it be cleaning, plumbing or babysitting the children to ensure the parents can work on tidying up the property – outsourcing will ensure your short selling timeframe is met.

Be prepared
When the buyers walk through the door of the property, be prepared to answer any questions they may have. Educate yourself on the local area – what are the perks of living in the neighbourhood, why should they buy this property and not the one down the street? Talk to the neighbours and be ready to win the buyers over.

All Real Estate Agents are familiar with sale targets. Real estate is a numbers game and it doesn’t matter if your targets were set by yourself or your leader, reaching them (or smashing them out of the ball park) every month or quarter is a non-negotiable.

Real Estate Agents are usually firm believers in rewarding themselves when they hit their targets. Whether you have sold your first property, achieved a street price record, or simply sold more properties in a quarter than ever before – you deserve to be rewarded!

Here are 3 ways successful Real Estate Agents have rewarded themselves for hitting their sale targets.

Melissa Hickson, of Prime Residential Property Management in Melbourne’s Point Cook treated herself to a massage the day she won a big listing.

“I like to spend some time to get away from everything, I guess because it’s so hectic,” she says.

Mark McGill, of Amber Werchon Property on the Sunshine Coast, has a similar approach.

Three months out of every year Mark will go on vacation and these holidays are booked in advance and are non-negotiable.

“The good thing about that is I can work up to those breaks, know when they are, can plan my time and time off around them,” he says.

Nelson Dueza’s, Collier’s International Director chooses to take his wife out for a nice lunch or dinner every time he finalises a big sale.

Mr Dueza said he likes to focus on doing something immediate, however he does keep his eye on a bigger prize.

“I do have a goal to purchase a really fine Rolex watch that I really like, but that is in a year or so” he says.

What targets have you set and how will you reward yourself?

When it comes to selling property, “How much is my house worth?” is on par with the “How long is a piece of string?” question.

There are dozens of factors that determine the price of a property, but are you considering them all?

Pricing a property incorrectly could see little buyer interest from the beginning of the selling campaign. This often leads to the property sitting on the market for months at a time, making people wonder if the property is overpriced or there is something wrong with it.

Here’s 4 ways to help you pitch a property’s current market value in preparation for sale.

1. Don’t let your sellers move too fast
Sellers can often make an offer or buy another property before their current property is sold. This can lead them to demanding a higher price than what their property is worth simply because they cannot accept any less. With no science behind their desired figure, you will have trouble finding a buyer willing to meet the asking price.

2. Keep emotion out of it
Emotional attachment to the property is a common reason for overpricing. Seller’s commonly attach a dollar value to the moments and memories they have shared in their home. However, buyers with no attachment will have trouble paying forward more than they should. Remind the sellers they have to take a logical approach to the process in order to get the best results.

3. Be the knowledgeable expert
Facts and information are your biggest asset when listing a property for sale. Stay ahead of the game by attending auctions in the area and knowing what similar properties have recently sold for. Let the sellers know what they’re up against, show them the competition (other listed properties on the market) and agree on a desirable price for the property together.

4. Be aware
Don’t limit your education to listed properties in the area. Ensure you’re aware of what hasn’t sold. It’s a great way to find out what “overvalued” or “incorrectly priced” looks like. Are they similar properties to yours? If so, adjust your selling campaign accordingly.

Finding a property to sell is the easy bit, right? Finding the right buyer and selling it for the desired price is where it gets tricky.

Many agents let the market take over, which can result in the property remaining on the market longer than it has to. Giving your vendors the following 6 tips before the ‘For Sale’ sign is hammered into the front lawn will give you and your vendors the best possible outcome.

1. Get organised. Remove all personal items and ensure trinkets and dust collecting items are fresh and clean.
2. Style: Freshen up the property with some coloured cushions or prints – you can take them all with you when you go too!
3. Greenery: If you can’t manage to keep a plant alive, fresh flowers in the kitchen or dining room will do.
4. Outdoors: Ensure gutters are clean and hedges are trimmed.
5. Property Stylist: If the vendors don’t have time to re-style their house, suggest a professional service to do it for them! A low cost investment for a better result.
6. Inspection days: Turn the lights on, light fresh candles and buy fresh flowers. Let the buyers imagine your home as theirs.

Remember, communication is key during the listing and selling process. Your vendors will appreciate your transparency when selling their biggest asset. Good luck!