Top tips to buyers, sellers and landlords

There are so many articles offering property advice that readers can sometimes feel overwhelmed by it. Charles Vining, Seeff’s MD in Sandton, offers the following concise tips to all those embarking on a journey in property, whether it is as a buyer, seller or landlord.

BUYERS:

· Visit your suburb of choice in peak hour traffic, as well as on quieter weekends

· Spend time in the area you are keen on – visit restaurants and chat to locals

· Do a bond pre-qualification to avoid disappointment

· Understand that you need to have cash available for transfer fees etc.

· Work with a good agent that specialises in the area, and be honest about your budget and needs

SELLERS:

· View your home from across the street for curb appeal and tidy up the entrance to give a neat and clean first impression

· De-clutter as much as possible

· Know what properties in the area actually sold for – advertised prices and sold prices differ significantly

· Work with an expert in the suburb and have them explain the CMA

· Grant a sole mandate - agents work hardest on sole mandates and ALL buyers see property on a sole mandate as it’s advertised more effectively.

LANDLORDS:

· While you may save costs if you don’t use an agent, having to be available to your tenant at all times and having to understand rental law and procedure are major cons

· Act quickly on unpaid/late rentals

· Always act within the law – do not take the law into your own hands, it will cost you more in the long run

· Work with an attorney that specialises in rental evictions if it ends up going that route – it’s a complicated matter

Top tips to buyers, sellers and landlords

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