Selling Your Home? Consider Your Target Market

Placing a property for sale is a big decision and can be an emotional one as well. However, to achieve a quick sale at an agreeable price it helps to take a step back and revaluate the way the way you present your property - ensuring the home for sale is a prospect that will appeal to your target market.

The first step in attracting serious buyers is assessing who the property is likely to appeal to. If you are selling a large detached house you might target the family market, while smaller properties such as flats and apartments might better suit the carefree young professional.

Once you know the target market, you should ensure the potential of the property is maximised to cater towards their lifestyle preferences – without alienating others.

Creating Appeal for Residential Sales

The best way to create a backdrop of broad-based appeal is to neutralise the decor and depersonalise the space – choosing light natural colours for walls and removing objects and ornaments that may not be to a buyer's taste.

Sellers can look at the way spaces are purposed – ensuring the uses the layout suggests are in keeping with the expectations of potential purchasers. For example, family homes benefit from additional bedrooms while those targeted at professionals might see the same space better suited to use as a study or office. Choose furniture that illustrates how rooms can function without overpowering the available space.

Follow Agent Advice on Your Property for Sale

Do consider the buying habits of your target market, so that you can strategise your home sale to better suit their style. Talk to your agent about the best time to attract interest, and the property marketing options for your home, for example:

• Is your target market more likely to respond to an advertised price of “offers in the region” of or “offers over”?
• Should you consider scheduled viewings only or would organising an open house event arouse more interest?
• If the property is empty does it need staging to help bring out its best for the buyers?

Remember, knowing the target market can help focus a home sale and following professional advice increases the chances of selling success.