Making the Most of an Online Market
Almost all potential buyers begin their french property search online. The first hurdle to getting people out to view your property is making sure your house stands out and potential buyers make that initial ‘click’. If you’re preparing to sell your farmhouse in Brittany, village house in Provence, cottage in Normandy, or Dordogne country house, here are a couple of steps you can take to make sure your french property stands out above the competition:
Make Sure the House is Ship-Shape
- Unless it is obviously a property for renovation, complete any outstanding DIY jobs. A well-maintained home gives buyers confidence and they take comfort in seeing a house that is ready to move into.
- Ensure the interior and exterior paintwork is fresh before the photographs for the sales details are taken.
- Maximise the number of bedrooms. The higher the number of bedrooms, the greater the number of potential buyers that will be interested in your property.
- Tame and tidy the garden. If feasible, create an ‘al fresco’ lifestyle feel, ready for the next owner to enjoy straight away.
The Shop Window
- The internet is your shop window. The photos have to be good quality and in focus otherwise they will not be eye-catching.
- The main picture that is used to display your property is crucial to catching a buyers’ attention. Take the photo on a sunny day, and preferably when any plants are in bloom.
- Character properties in France are very popular with international buyers looking for ‘la belle vie’. Try to sell the lifestyle as well as the property and include pictures of the surrounding area.
A Competitive Market
- Make sure your property is keenly priced. Buyers undertake a good amount of online research and are very savvy about which properties represent good value. Only those that are competitively priced will catch people’s eye.
- Consider the property price brackets on property websites. For example, if your property is on the market for €205,000 it will not appear in any buyers’ searches that put a maximum price of €200,000, although they may well be in a position to stretch that extra few thousand, or you may be prepared to reduce a few thousand for a buyer in a good position, such as a cash buyer for example.
For More Information
If you would like to speak to us about marketing your property, please just give us a call on +44 1865 582382
