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When selling a property, it’s not just the bricks and mortar that’s going on the market. There’s also a long list of external factors bundled up with them. 

That old real estate cliche is true – it’s all about location. Lifestyle factors, community, and access to amenities can be a significant factor in whether someone chooses to make an offer on a property (and if they do, how high that offer might be).  Whether an area offers parks and schools for families, or cafes and bars for singles and young couples, can be just as influential as the number of bedrooms or the size of the garden – sometimes even more so. Basically, buyers will make compromises for lifestyle. 

It’s why people will pay the same amount for a small tiny studio next to the CBD as they will for a huge five bedroom house a 90 minute commute from the office. It’s not just the home they’ve bought; it’s the life that comes with it. Some will happily sacrifice space if it means sleeping in later and spending less time in traffic. Others are willing to do a longer commute during the week if it means enjoying a large backyard, extra bedrooms or a spacious kitchen on the weekends. 

So don’t fixate on simply selling the brand new appliances, the extra bedroom/study, or the hardwood floors. Make a point of the unique features of a suburb, like historical architecture, farmers markets, access to a hobby (like a river for fishing), or dog parks for inner city pet lovers without backyards. These things all factor into people’s purchasing decisions. This is where in depth local knowledge really pays off, because you can let potential buyers in on the activities and amenities that will get their attention. 

It pays to factor in the features that make the suburb stand out. People are more likely to express interest in a property they can easily imagine themselves living in; the lifestyle on offer plays into that. It’s the same principle that applies when you’re photographing a property or preparing it for an open-for-inspection – Make it easy for buyers to imagine themselves living in the house by selling them the idea of the life they’d lead there.

How do you market lifestyle when selling a property?