Once again the French property programme on M6 Maison à vendre offered some useful advice for sellers, based on two case studies - a village house just outside Lille, and a fairly nondescript pavillon near Paris.
It was clear from the outset that the owners of the first property had an exaggerated idea of its worth - even in its deplorable state before the makeover team moved in. Talking originally of a sale price of 400,000 euros, which had apparently been confirmed by an 'expert', by the end of the programme they were looking at offers of just 250,000 euros, with no certainty of a buyer. Among the efforts needed to make the house presentable for sale was the removal of a veritable menagerie of animals, including rabbits, chinchillas, several geese, chickens, cats, a goat and two lively dogs, and repairing the damage they had caused over the years to furnishings and paintwork.
In contrast, the standard concrete bungalow attracted four offers, including one accepted at the full asking price, after minimal decoration and refurbishment - on the first day of being offered for sale.
It was clear from the outset that the owners of the first property had an exaggerated idea of its worth - even in its deplorable state before the makeover team moved in. Talking originally of a sale price of 400,000 euros, which had apparently been confirmed by an 'expert', by the end of the programme they were looking at offers of just 250,000 euros, with no certainty of a buyer. Among the efforts needed to make the house presentable for sale was the removal of a veritable menagerie of animals, including rabbits, chinchillas, several geese, chickens, cats, a goat and two lively dogs, and repairing the damage they had caused over the years to furnishings and paintwork.
In contrast, the standard concrete bungalow attracted four offers, including one accepted at the full asking price, after minimal decoration and refurbishment - on the first day of being offered for sale.