Whilst most people decide which Estate Agent to instruct based on gut instinct as to whom they believe will achieve the best price and sell the property the quickest, their decision is made up of a number of different things they have been told, have seen or expect. We obviously believe that Harry Harper fits the bill. We have come up with ten different reasons to instruct Harry Harper. We hope that these promises will form part of your decision making process.
Should you have any other reasons or suggestions please send them to us by email.
10 Reasons
- One of the most recognised and respected local agents
- Reputation for excellent customer service
- Competitive selling fees
- Canvassing and marketing specifically directed to selling your home
- Enjoy a dedicated Sales Consultant
- Guaranteed accompanied viewing 7 days a week
- Complete home buying service available- we look after you from start to finish
- Helpful and supportive staff
- Vendor feed back every week
- 30 years of professionalism and experience
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Marketing your Property
At Harry Harper we fully understand that excellent presentation and maximum exposure play a key role in achieving the best possible price for our clients' properties. We are a Sales and Marketing Business first and an Estate Agent second. Most Agents act as the term suggests “as an Agent”. Without an effective marketing push you will almost definitely be at a disadvantage. Effective Marketing is at the heart of what we do.
We are totally committed to delivering the results you expect when selling your home:
✓✓✓ The best possible price in the shortest possible time.
People sell houses
You can have the best marketing in the world but if the people who represent you and your property are not proactive and motivated to pursue a purchaser then don’t use that Agent. Estate Agency is more than just placing a house on the market, putting a board in the garden and displaying it in your office. The Negotiators should want to view your house themselves, take every opportunity to talk about the property in every morning meeting and throughout the day and grasp every precious potential purchaser with both hands to sell the benefits and features of your home and the area where you live.
All customers have expectations and we hope to exceed those everyday. We publish a "what our customer expects" list to all our staff and they are judged against that list. Please have a look at what we think you expect. If you have any suggestions to add to the list please let us know by email.
Presenting your property
Looks can kill - or kick start - a sale. First impressions count, so it's always a good idea to make sure your property is presented at its best. It is important that your property looks at its best in order to achieve the best possible rent and to help it let quickly. Inside and out, attention to detail helps make a great first impression. With such a wide choice of properties on the market, it's more important than ever to show your property to its best advantage.
Outside appeal
An attractive exterior is the key to bringing the most prospective buyers to your doorstep. Here are ways to improve the “curb appeal” of your home:
- Keep the lawn trimmed and fertilized.
- Keep snow and ice removed from driveways and sidewalks.
- Shape up the shrubs. New decorative stones or woodchips may help, too.
- Weed flower beds and add charm by potting flowers near the front door.
- Add warmth with a seasonal door decoration.
- Clean and straighten sagging rain gutters.
- Remove oil stains from driveways and garage.
- Repair stray or warped roofing shingles.
- Advise sale associate on the best placement of the yard sign.
Cleaning
Begin with a thorough clean. Sort out the things you no longer want. Hold a garage sale and convert that “stored cash” into needed repairs.
- Store or give away excess furniture that makes the room appear cramped.
- Discard unwanted items from cupboards and kitchen.
- Sweep the basement and garage floors.
- Wash windows.
- Clean and arrange cupboards and cabinets; they will look bigger with less clutter.
- Make your kitchen appliances shine.
- Wash walls and woodwork.
- Scrub soap film from tile and grout.
- Clear off counters to make the kitchen look spacious and neat.
Decorating
Decorating helps assure you will get the best price for your home.
- Give rooms needing paint a fresh coat, in a neutral color.
- Re-stain or paint chipped woodwork.
- Replace torn or soiled wallpaper, carpeting or draperies in a neutral shade.
- Arrange your window treatments to allow maximum light into rooms.
- Consider new light fixtures and mirrors to expand a room.
- Add flowers to make your home more attractive.
- Perk up a bathroom with a new shower curtain.
Repairing
Minor flaws in your home suggest negligence to a buyer or tenant. Your repair list should include:
- Fix leaky faucets and toilets.
- Make sure closet and cabinet doors close easily.
- Make sure the garage door is in working order.
- Inspect the furnace, humidifier and water heater.
- Touch up paint, repair plaster and putty nail holes.
- Make sure your doorbell is working properly.
- Polish or refinish badly scratched hardwood floors.
Showing preparation
Remember the importance of first impressions - they mean everything. Pretend you are a buyer or tenant seeing your home for the first time.
- Make the property look welcoming and inviting
- Remove clutter. Make sure junk mail doesn’t pile up by the front door. Arrange to have mail redirected.
- Make beds.
- Turn on soft music and all lights; turn off the television. Keep curtains fully drawn for maximum light and ensure windows are sparkling to let in more light.
- Open windows to air out any stuffy rooms. Set central heating to come on in winter.
- Bake bread or cookies; the aroma is pleasing. Avoid unpleasant cooking odours.
Maintaining your property
Some potential purchasers and certainly Surveyors look beyond presentation and examine the state and fabric of your property. To make your property more appealing to purchasers and to ensure it passes any survey with flying colours, pay special attention to the following areas.
Roof
- Flashings
Flashings are used when a roof slope meets brickwork to keep out damp. In modern buildings these are normally lead and should not cause a problem. However in older buildings they are more likely to be sand/cement and are often referred to by surveyors. Check their condition. If they have cracked, you will need to repair them and possibly replace them with lead. - Tiles
If any are damaged or have slipped, replace them. - Roof support
If your roof has heavy concrete tiles, it may need extra support. You may also need to strengthen supports if you’ve had a loft conversion, removed internal walls or use the loft to store heavy items. - Rafters
Check inside your roof space that roof timbers have not become detached, particularly at the ends of rafters where they are attached to the wall. If they have, replace them. - Flat roofs
These are often prone to leaks. A felt roof should be covered with white stone chippings to reflect the heat of the sun. Check that the felt has not split where the walls and eaves meet. It can easily be repaired by reheating if it is cracked or blistered. - Rainwater
A little rain can cause a lot of damage to an interior. It is important to check that your property is watertight. - Gutters
Check all gutters carefully, particularly if they are older cast-iron gutters. They should slope slightly towards the down pipe. Look at the base of the walls for splash marks or the back of down pipes for staining on the brickwork, as these may mean a cracked gutter. If you have a problem, replace the gutter. - Check that the top of drainpipes are not blocked by leaves and make sure you keep all gutters and pipes free from any blockage.
Doors & windows
Modern timber-framed windows are usually made of soft wood and are prone to rot at the bottom of the frame and sills. Ensure that your windows are regularly painted and the sills are regularly wiped down to remove any water. Repainting every four years is normally enough.
Movement
All buildings move to a certain degree and cracks will always be found by a surveyor - particularly on the exterior. If you are worried about any particular cracks you should take advice from a building surveyor as soon as possible.
Here are some of the most common signs of movement and where it may be found:
- Bay windows
They are often prone to movement as they impose less ground pressure than the rest of the property and because they have more shallow foundations. - Diagonal cracks
These are often signs of movement being caused by trees too close to the property. Be aware that removing the tree will not always correct the problem. - Cracks close to door and window openings
These are often signs that the property has suffered from subsidence. If this is the case, you may need to monitor the movement to see how severe and/ or recent the subsidence is then take advice from a surveyor or engineer. - Penetration damp
Look for damp patches and staining where rainwater has found its way into the structure of a building - Rising damp
This can be found in rotten skirting boards or damp at the base of walls. It’s usually caused by a break in the damp proof course allowing moisture from the ground to be drawn up into your property. A new one can be installed very easily – normally by injecting chemicals into the brickwork. Be aware that after injecting a new damp course it is possible that moisture may be trapped in the upper section of the wall. If this happens, you may have to remove the damp plaster and allow the brickwork to dry out. - Condensation
This is caused by poor ventilation and is often found in houses with double-glazing. A common characteristic is mould or spotty black furry stains on wall surfaces. Improving the ventilation usually cures this problem.
Wiring
Electric wiring does wear out, and should be tested every five years. However, as a general rule, any wiring installed pre-1967 probably needs replacing.
Plumbing
Central heating boilers should be serviced annually. New radiators also have independent temperature controls which you may consider installing as they improve the efficiency of your heating.
Damp
Rising damp – or any other damp – can be a major problem if you’re selling your property. If you find any of the following, it’s a good idea to start remedial work as soon as possible.
Drains
Surveyors always check drains, so ensure that your drains are kept clear of any blockages. Be wary of cracked drains which can be invaded by tree roots. These can eventually block the drain completely and cause more severe problems such as subsidence.