The New South Wales housing market ended the year with a 1% increase in residential property prices, despite a downturn in 2020. This year, the news is even better, especially for regional NSW home sellers: according to research from CoreLogic, residential property prices in non-capital cities jumped 13% in 2021.
Whether your property is in Greater Sydney or the North Coast, the soaring demand and low availability of homes and units make it the ideal time for you to put your residential property up for sale.
Keep in mind, however, that competition is as fierce as ever, especially in areas that don’t get as much attention from those looking to buy a home. These include suburbs most affected by the COVID-19 case surge and ensuing lockdowns.
Whether you’re a real estate professional in Sydney or a homeowner in Byron Bay looking to sell, the following tips will help your listing stand out from the crowd and improve your chances of making a sale.
Offer Personalised Virtual Tours
The NSW government has instituted a statewide lockdown until at least August 28, 2021, for Greater Sydney and August 21, 2021, for regional NSW. Open homes and in-person auctions are not allowed, although private inspections can be done under strict conditions: one buyer and one real estate agent at a time and face masks must be on at all times.
However, that doesn’t mean you should put off trying to sell your property until after the lockdown is over. Auctions can still be done online.
To drum up interest in auction day, you should arrange 3D virtual tours of your property.
The pandemic has changed the way people sell their homes and affected the way potential buyers research properties and narrow down their options. It is now not uncommon for buyers to attend livestream auctions and make offers without first setting foot on the property.
Virtual house tours allow potential buyers to view every room in the house and explore on their own, just as if they were there in person.
You can use VR apps to provide prospects with a truly immersive, 3D experience 24/7. Or, you can schedule one-on-one guided virtual open homes using your smartphone or tablet to allow potential homebuyers to ask questions.
Stage Appropriately
We all know the importance of making a house look as attractive and livable as possible for open homes and photos. However, it’s helpful to keep in mind that most people’s priorities have changed regarding their living spaces.
After spending most of their time at home, people are looking for spaces that serve multiple purposes. For instance, an outdoor deck that doubles as an alfresco dining room or a spare bedroom they can kit out as a home office. It’s helpful to keep this in mind while staging and highlight alternative uses for rooms and outdoor areas.
Add outdoor lighting, plants, and an outdoor dining set to a patio or deck, decorate bathrooms with candles and glass bottles of bath salts to create a spa-like feel—the options are endless.
Decluttering is also doubly important now, as it creates the illusion of more space. Consider decorating with mirrors as well, as they also make rooms appear more spacious, both in real life and in photographs.
Invest in Digital Marketing
Real estate professionals who haven’t had a website made yet should do it now. According to a 2020 report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), 99 per cent of Australians used the Internet in the first six months of the year. There was also a marked increase in the amount of time the average Australian browsed the web and shopped online.
Having your own website and optimizing it to get more traffic can help you increase leads and boost sales. When somebody searches for real estate online, being on the first results page makes it more likely for them to click on your website.
Additionally, your own website can help you solidify your branding. You can use it to convey your desired image, so you can reach out to people who are within your target markets. For instance, an elegant-looking website with excellent copy can help attract those who wish to purchase luxury real estate.
With the help of a web designer, you can also use your site to highlight appealing aspects of the neighbourhood in which you’re selling. For example, web design services in Penrith can help real estate agents who want to put showcase their area’s best features to potential buyers by incorporating images of the city’s schools, local businesses, and parks into your site.
Those who aren’t real estate professionals but are just planning to sell their homes might want to focus on digital marketing methods that deliver faster results, such as advertising on social media and listing on property sites. However, if you’re selling a high-value property, making a bigger investment in digital marketing, such as having a site built or using paid ads, can result in greater ROI.
Make the Most of the Healthy NSW Property Market
With median home prices at over $1M in NSW, this is an excellent time to start ramping up your property marketing efforts. By adapting to the changing needs and preferences of the average homebuyer, you increase your chances of having your property sold at a great price and shorter time.
