If you’re considering listing your property for sale, you’ll be faced with a decision on whether to get a property agent to do your viewings or do them yourself. We look at both options so you can choose the best options for your property and situation.
Your budget
When you choose your property agent, they will tell you all about what they offer as part of the price. Some property agents will charge more for showing prospective buyers around your home. Others will include this in the total cost of their services. Your budget could dictate if you conduct your own property viewings or get the property agent to do them. However, even though it might be cheaper to do them yourself, you could save money if you let the professional take over. They might be able to get a higher price for your property which will offset the higher cost you pay for the property agent to conduct your viewings.
Honest feedback
When a potential buyer is viewing a property with the owner, they might not want to be honest and open about the property; critiquing someone's home isn’t polite, especially if they’re the one showing you around. The potential buyers are more likely to be polite and then not follow up afterwards. When a property agent shows potential buyers around the property, the buyers feel more comfortable opening cupboards, asking questions and showing how they really feel about the property. This feedback can be really useful, and the property owner can make changes to accommodate potential buyers' needs and concerns. It might also open up the negotiation process between the buyer and the property agent.
Property knowledge
You might think that no one knows more about your property; however, that might not be the case. A property agent will do their research and have great knowledge of the area and what prospective buyers will want to know about the property. They will notice the features and benefits of the property you might overlook. They’ll be forthcoming with these, ensuring they tell the prospective buyers everything great about the property. In addition, they might understand more about changes that you can make to alter the property footprint from previous experience. These things can help to sell your property quickly and for the best price.
Less stress
Successfully selling your property takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Selling a property in Hong Kong or any other area of the world can be stressful. Property agents can reduce this stress and inconvenience significantly. You can often provide them with a key to your property and book slots over the phone. This way, you don’t need to worry about being available or in the house when potential buyers want to visit your property. Taking time off work or working from home can be frustrating, especially when the potential buyers aren’t interested or don’t show up. You can save yourself this stress and hassle when you use an estate agent to do your viewings.
Control
Some people want full control over the information that prospective buyers get when they come to view your property. If this is the case, you should conduct the viewing yourself. If you let a property agent conduct the viewings, you won’t get to dictate what they say or listen to the feedback directly from the potential buyers.
Experience and professionalism
If you choose a good estate agent, they’ll have lots of experience and a professional attitude towards selling your property. Their experience and knowledge are great advantages when selling a property. They will know the best room to start the tour, how to describe each room and how to stage the room so that it comes across in the best way possible. They will also be able to answer or deflect any questions when necessary. Estate agents are good at creating rapport with people and being friendly and welcoming. This attitude can put a positive spin on something that the potential buyer might not be sure about in your home.
It's entirely up to you if you choose to do your own viewing or ask the property agent to conduct them on your behalf. However, an estate agent's experience, knowledge and professionalism can often help sell your property.
Resources:
- Property Agent - Buy Me A Coffee
- Apartment for Rent Hong Kong - News.Blog
- Hong Kong Homes - Smore