If you're looking to do something, then chances are you'll want to do it from the comfort of your home, by simply tapping the screen of your smartphone or laptop, just like the rest of the world. It's 2019. We shop online, we communicate online, we start entire businesses online, and of course we've found ways to sell online - but I'm not just talking about selling your old clothes on ebay. We can now use the internet to promote even bigger sales, such as cars, furniture and even entire homes. But how do you go about doing it? Statistically, 95% of house-hunters actually begin their search on the internet. It's much easier than you think.
Find an Online Estate Agent
It might sound like stating the obvious, but the first logical step would be to find an online estate agent to promote your house sale. Now of course, with hiring an estate agent, whether it be online or in person, you will be liable to pay them a fee. However, it's actually a lot cheaper to go with an online estate agent than it is to go down the traditional route.
High street estate agents will averagely charge between 0.75%-3.0%+ VAT commission which is extortionate in comparison to what you'll pay to have your home advertised online. Online estate agents tend to offer different packages, ranging from "standard", to "enhanced", to "premium", giving you the option to pay as much or as little as you feel you want or need.
Take the Time to Prepare Your Home
The choice to sell your home online, however, will require that you take pictures of the interior and exterior of the house, and these should be high quality. Make sure your home is clean and tidy first and foremost, and that any clutter is hidden away - no matter how endearing you find your pile of children's books and toys in the corner of the living room, you can bet that the house-hunters of the internet won't! A quick coat of neutral paint and rethinking furniture placement to make the room look more spacious can make the world of difference, and something as simple as adding fresh flowers to the equation will just put the cherry on top.
Also remember that lighting is everything. The best time to shoot the exterior of your house, although not a desirable time to be awake, is a bright morning at dawn, just as the sun is coming up (and if you really don't fancy this, a bright morning in general will do). Make sure all of the curtains and windows are open to allow the maximum amount of light into each room, and emphasise this even more by turning on your indoor artificial lighting. If it looks like a showroom, more people will want to view it. The online pictures are going to be the first thing that potential home buyers will see, so give them a good first impression, or chances are they won't organise a viewing.
Consider Other Options
If it's a quick sale you're looking for, and you still want to go through an online estate agent, why not consider paying for a premium listing? Surely you'll want to have your home visible to as many online lookers as possible, and paying for a premium listing is a sure way to get this to happen. By making your property stand out from the crowd of others floating around the internet, you're putting yourself in a prime position as the seller of that property. Buying a premium online listing will averagely set you back around £250, however most online estate agents will give you discount if you agree to sell with them.
Another alternative option, where you can skip over the estate agents' fees completely are websites such as https://www.readysteadysell.co.uk/we-buy-any-house/, who will value and buy your home for cash, free of charge. Companies like this can be a good option for anybody looking to sell up quickly and free of hassle, especially if they're experiencing financial problems and need to clear debt quickly, avoid repossession or rapidly unlock some cash, for example.
A lot of people worry about selling things online, solely for the reason that there are scammers and hackers out there who are not to be trusted, and of course selling something as valuable as your home requires careful internet usage. As long as you conduct your research, go through well reputed websites, and make sure you follow all the right steps, there's no reason why anybody can't sell their home online.
