How to successfully sell your real estate: our tips | Real estate from SeLoger

Do you need to sell real estate? You can choose to do it yourself or with the help of a professional. In France, 1,352,000 real estate transactions between private individuals were registered in 2022. But most (two thirds) of the transactions are done with the help of professional real estate agents because of the scale of the project and various complexities. No commission, direct negotiation, project control... The reasons to choose a private to private sale are many. A few key tips to successfully sell your property quickly and for the best price.

Tip #1: Carefully assess the value of your property.

The selling price of your property is a crucial factor in attracting potential buyers. It should not be underpriced or, on the contrary, overpriced. Priced correctly, it makes real estate transactions easier. Although it can be difficult, it is important to estimate the value of your house or condo objectively. To do this:

• Research the real estate market in your area;
• Compare your property to listings for sale nearby, preferably in your neighborhood;
• Each month, check out the Meilleurs Agents Barometer, published by Meilleurs Agents, which most accurately reflects the reality of the changing real estate market in the major French metropolitan areas;
• Examine objective criteria: lighting, floor, nuisance, accessibility, general condition, window view, appearance, etc.;
• Use a free online assessment tool, such as the one offered by SeLoger.

Tip #2: Highlight your real estate.

Viewings coming up? Before you meet prospective buyers, make sure you prepare your home. It should be clean and tidy. A neutral interior makes it easier to present to prospective buyers. Avoid souvenirs, family photos, old-fashioned furniture, and bright wall colors. If you have the opportunity, tidy up all the walls before selling the property. Consider clearing out different rooms of your house or apartment, following the principles of home-staging.

Tip #3: Put together an attractive real estate listing.

As part of a private to private real estate sale, you must compose and place the ad yourself. Our recommendations for a successful listing:

• Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. What information would you like to see in the listing? An accurate description of the property, its location, and the area size.
• Be honest. For example, if work is required, it's better to mention it. This will help avoid issues during viewings.
• Choose beautiful photos. Adding high-quality images to your listing increases its traffic sevenfold. Don't hesitate to reach out to a professional photographer to ensure the quality of your photos, and publish plenty of shots.
• Post the ad on various platforms: a powerful real estate listing site like SeLoger.com, platforms for private sales, social media, etc.

Although selling real estate from one private individual to another has its advantages, it remains complicated. Pricing, writing the listing, managing viewings... The seller has to handle all aspects of the transaction on their own. Trusting your project to a real estate professional allows you to eliminate all these time-consuming tasks and sometimes sell faster.

Tip #4: Conduct mandatory technical inspections of the property.

90% of buyers only consider properties with good energy efficiency ratings or rely on poor assessments for negotiations. When selling real estate, you need to provide technical documentation (DDT) for the interim contract or sales act. On average, the cost of technical diagnostics for real estate in 2023 ranges from €40 to €250. If you are selling your property through a real estate agency, this diagnostics is provided for free. It includes:

• Energy efficiency (DPE);
• Assessment of lead presence (Crep);
• Information on the presence or absence of asbestos;
• Electrical diagnostics (installations older than 15 years);
• Gas diagnostics (installations older than 15 years);
• Diagnosis of individual sewage systems;
• Diagnosis of termites and other wood-dwelling insects;
• Information about risks and pollutants: natural, mining, technological, seismic, radon, etc.;
• Noise diagnostics;
• Energy audit if your home is classified as F or G under the DPE (since April 1, 2023).

In the case of an apartment, it is also necessary to provide an information passport for the property (CIL). The area of the private part of the ownership share (Carré Law) must be specified. Sell your property through an agency or between private individuals.