Hello again!
I hope you’ve had a great week.
On Monday it was Bank Holiday to celebrate the Festival of the Flood. It’s a fun time but you either keep out of the way or join in - because everyone gets drenched with water! My friends were absolutely soaked with hoses and water bombs. They said they had a great time with all the kids, but rather them than me; I took the quiet option and stayed at home by the pool reading a book.
Let’s carry on from last week when I said I’d look at other ideas for how your neighbours and friends can help you make your property look great for viewings.
They’ll need to make sure your mailbox is cleared regularly. In Cyprus we don’t have letterboxes in the door; we have mailboxes outside our properties. As well as post, they also get stuffed full of junk mail which doesn’t look nice and also shows the property is empty.
Something else to look at is your garden (if you have one). An overgrown garden is a dead giveaway that you are not there, and as an initial impression, doesn’t look good for potential purchasers.
Why not ask your friends to look after it for you? It’s a really good idea – especially as plants and bushes grow ten times faster in Cyprus than in the UK, and that’s no exaggeration. So for a small outlay every month, you could pay them to do this.
And if you have a pool, perhaps they could look after that too? Pools must be maintained. Or, you can place a cover over it, but when someone is viewing, I think it’s always better if they can see the pool operating as you are primarily selling a lifestyle. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you share a pool on a complex.
Also, your property will need to be aired regularly. Properties that are locked up in Cyprus smell musty inside if they aren’t opened for a long time.
Here’s what I suggest. Ask whoever it is you trust to do your viewings if they can take care of the whole property for you for a monthly fee. It really is worth it, and if they are also going to do your viewings, you know they will make sure everything is pristine for a potential buyer.
If they agree but won’t take any payment because they just want something to do with their time, then take them out for a very nice meal, or pay for them to have a weekend away in a hotel to say thank you. It’s worth every penny.
Next week I’m going to given you my final ideas, then I’m going to move on to tell you all about our renovation project here in Cyprus – from start to finish.
There are some hilarious stories along the way, (like the day I almost fell down the stinking blocked drain) plus all the inevitable frustrations there were with a project like this.
Finally, I will just mention though, that before we even set foot on the plane, we bought the Cyprus Buying Guide, http://www.blogger.com/www.cyprusbuyingguide.com%20 – it was invaluable and saved us a small fortune!
Ok, that’s it from me for now, see you next week.
Have fun and keep smiling!
Best wishes
Jackie
Friday 28 May 2010
Friday 21 May 2010
Make sure your Cyprus property looks it's best!
Hello, how are you?
Unbelievably, it’s been raining in Cyprus, but at least it’s been warm rain! There’s been a dust cloud here for about a week, so this will finally clear the air.
Following on from last week, I said I’d give you some help on incentives for neighbors or friends who are helping you sell your property because you can’t be here.
Why not pay them commission from the final sale? If you are selling privately, you won’t have agents’ fees to pay, so how about suggesting a small percentage?
You could also put viewings on a slightly more formal basis and pay them a small fee each time they show someone round for you.
That way, you aren’t taking advantage and you won’t feel embarrassed to ask again. Viewings take time, you want to make sure your property looks at its best - and this doesn’t happen in five minutes.
By the time your property has been unlocked, they’ve opened the shutters and curtains, taken dust sheets off the furniture and waited for the potential purchasers to turn up – and then shown them round too - I would say somewhere between 10 and 20 euros is money really well spent!
There are lots of other things your neighbors/friends can do to make your property look great for viewings; I’ll cover those next week.
That’s it for now, enjoy your weekend!
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Unbelievably, it’s been raining in Cyprus, but at least it’s been warm rain! There’s been a dust cloud here for about a week, so this will finally clear the air.
Following on from last week, I said I’d give you some help on incentives for neighbors or friends who are helping you sell your property because you can’t be here.
Why not pay them commission from the final sale? If you are selling privately, you won’t have agents’ fees to pay, so how about suggesting a small percentage?
You could also put viewings on a slightly more formal basis and pay them a small fee each time they show someone round for you.
That way, you aren’t taking advantage and you won’t feel embarrassed to ask again. Viewings take time, you want to make sure your property looks at its best - and this doesn’t happen in five minutes.
By the time your property has been unlocked, they’ve opened the shutters and curtains, taken dust sheets off the furniture and waited for the potential purchasers to turn up – and then shown them round too - I would say somewhere between 10 and 20 euros is money really well spent!
There are lots of other things your neighbors/friends can do to make your property look great for viewings; I’ll cover those next week.
That’s it for now, enjoy your weekend!
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Hints and Tips for Selling in Cyprus
Hello again
We’re having a heat wave! It’s been 40 degrees over the last few days and it’s time to get back into our swimming pool. Phew, it’s not normally this hot in May; this is more like August weather. Can’t complain though, blue skies, sunshine, everything you need to make you feel great!
Last week I said I’d help you with marketing your holiday home in Cyprus, so if you are trying to sell your property here from overseas and finding it difficult, these hints and tips might help towards getting that all important sale. Remember to share them with your friends too.
First things first, I can’t stress enough – get a website. Some people may say this isn’t the way to do it, but I can only speak from my own experience, boy did it work! If you have a website, then you can simply refer to this in all your advertisements and get potential buyers to come to you direct, which will save you paying an agent a huge fee. Without the agent fee, you will then also have some room for negotiation when you get that all important offer.
If you don’t have an agent, the next challenge is how to conduct viewings when you don’t live here. I have a solution. Ask someone who does live here to do this for you. Everyone has neighbours who are here permanently, so next time you are over, invite them round for a barbeque and ask them if they would be willing to help you.
Next week I’ll carry on with more hints and tips (including offering incentives to friends and neighbours to help you get that sale), so until then, I’m going in the pool now to cool down, relax - and enjoy life in Cyprus.
Until next week, see you then!
Best wishes
Jackie
www.cyprusbuyingguide.com
We’re having a heat wave! It’s been 40 degrees over the last few days and it’s time to get back into our swimming pool. Phew, it’s not normally this hot in May; this is more like August weather. Can’t complain though, blue skies, sunshine, everything you need to make you feel great!
Last week I said I’d help you with marketing your holiday home in Cyprus, so if you are trying to sell your property here from overseas and finding it difficult, these hints and tips might help towards getting that all important sale. Remember to share them with your friends too.
First things first, I can’t stress enough – get a website. Some people may say this isn’t the way to do it, but I can only speak from my own experience, boy did it work! If you have a website, then you can simply refer to this in all your advertisements and get potential buyers to come to you direct, which will save you paying an agent a huge fee. Without the agent fee, you will then also have some room for negotiation when you get that all important offer.
If you don’t have an agent, the next challenge is how to conduct viewings when you don’t live here. I have a solution. Ask someone who does live here to do this for you. Everyone has neighbours who are here permanently, so next time you are over, invite them round for a barbeque and ask them if they would be willing to help you.
Next week I’ll carry on with more hints and tips (including offering incentives to friends and neighbours to help you get that sale), so until then, I’m going in the pool now to cool down, relax - and enjoy life in Cyprus.
Until next week, see you then!
Best wishes
Jackie
www.cyprusbuyingguide.com
Friday 7 May 2010
Tips for selling your Cyprus property
Hello again
Gosh, doesn’t time fly! It’s been a really busy week for me, how about you? The weather has been really weird in Cyprus over the last few days – we’ve had electric storms, thunder, lightning and heavy rain. Not really what we expect in May. Even the evenings have been a bit chilly; I had to put my socks on! It’s just not the normal pattern, but I guess that’s global warming and is affecting everyone around the world. I’m not worried though, because I know that in a couple of weeks we’ll be basking in the heat again.
Back to selling your property – are you getting more viewings? You should be by now if you’ve done everything I’ve suggested so far. Maybe you’ve even sold? Let me know if you have, I’d really love to hear from you.
Remember to take your posters with you wherever you go and also display them in your car as I mentioned last week - and try to get your friends to help you too.
Here’s a tip I forgot to mention previously. If you haven’t already had your “For Sale” sign made, get the printer to put a UV coating on it otherwise it will fade very quickly in the sun and you’ll end up paying for another one. It doesn’t cost much more to do this. I learnt the hard way because like most people, I didn’t know this was available - and my original sign faded after 3 months.
Finally, if you don’t live here but have a holiday home to sell and are finding it difficult, next time I’ll be giving some useful hints and tips on how to do this.
Have a great weekend.
Keep smiling, please tell your friends about my blog - and see you next week!
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com
Gosh, doesn’t time fly! It’s been a really busy week for me, how about you? The weather has been really weird in Cyprus over the last few days – we’ve had electric storms, thunder, lightning and heavy rain. Not really what we expect in May. Even the evenings have been a bit chilly; I had to put my socks on! It’s just not the normal pattern, but I guess that’s global warming and is affecting everyone around the world. I’m not worried though, because I know that in a couple of weeks we’ll be basking in the heat again.
Back to selling your property – are you getting more viewings? You should be by now if you’ve done everything I’ve suggested so far. Maybe you’ve even sold? Let me know if you have, I’d really love to hear from you.
Remember to take your posters with you wherever you go and also display them in your car as I mentioned last week - and try to get your friends to help you too.
Here’s a tip I forgot to mention previously. If you haven’t already had your “For Sale” sign made, get the printer to put a UV coating on it otherwise it will fade very quickly in the sun and you’ll end up paying for another one. It doesn’t cost much more to do this. I learnt the hard way because like most people, I didn’t know this was available - and my original sign faded after 3 months.
Finally, if you don’t live here but have a holiday home to sell and are finding it difficult, next time I’ll be giving some useful hints and tips on how to do this.
Have a great weekend.
Keep smiling, please tell your friends about my blog - and see you next week!
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Use your car to promote your property
Hello again, how are you?
Well, this week has been really busy. That’s the problem with taking holidays isn’t it (did I mention I’ve just been Sri Lanka?) I’ve had a problem with my tooth as well which doesn’t help when you’re trying to get through things quickly and need to concentrate– how I hate toothache!
OK. So let’s get back to some more ideas on how to sell your property. We’ve already talked about using email. But how about using your car? Or even ask your best friends if you can use theirs too!
Put the posters you have designed in your car when you have parked. Make sure you always try to park in a prominent place so as many people as possible see the posters. Park in busy areas, where there are plenty of pedestrians going by – how about the harbour in Paphos, or The Paphos Mall? It works!
Well, I’m in a rush this week with loads of deadlines to make so I’ll have to go now. But why not take a look at my latest Cyprus Buying Guide newsletter http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com. Hope you enjoy it!
Until next week – must fly!
Best wishes
Jackie
Well, this week has been really busy. That’s the problem with taking holidays isn’t it (did I mention I’ve just been Sri Lanka?) I’ve had a problem with my tooth as well which doesn’t help when you’re trying to get through things quickly and need to concentrate– how I hate toothache!
OK. So let’s get back to some more ideas on how to sell your property. We’ve already talked about using email. But how about using your car? Or even ask your best friends if you can use theirs too!
Put the posters you have designed in your car when you have parked. Make sure you always try to park in a prominent place so as many people as possible see the posters. Park in busy areas, where there are plenty of pedestrians going by – how about the harbour in Paphos, or The Paphos Mall? It works!
Well, I’m in a rush this week with loads of deadlines to make so I’ll have to go now. But why not take a look at my latest Cyprus Buying Guide newsletter http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com. Hope you enjoy it!
Until next week – must fly!
Best wishes
Jackie
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