The Secret to Selling in North Devon’s Buyer’s Market
The Great British Waiting Game (and Why It’s a Terrible Strategy for Selling Your Home)
Brits love waiting.
We queue for buses that may never come. We let tea bags steep with surgical precision. And when it comes to selling our homes? Oh, we wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
Because “it’s just the market right now.”
But here’s the thing. Some homes are selling. Quickly. Often above asking price.
What’s the secret? A lucky postcode? A property built on a ley line of buyer demand? A mysterious full moon ritual?
Nope. It’s strategy.
And while we can’t promise an immediate stampede of buyers knocking down your door like it’s a Boxing Day sale at Currys, we can tell you what’s working.
Let’s dive in.
Price is a Weapon. Use It Wisely.
A great pricing strategy isn’t about what you think your house is worth. It’s about what buyers are willing to pay.
Price too high? You’ll hear crickets.
Price too low? Buyers get suspicious.
Price it just right, and suddenly you have competition, interest, and the potential for multiple offers.
The best agents don’t just “value” your home. They position it. They price it to generate demand, not just sit on the market like a forgotten listing.
Because the first few weeks are everything—and if you get the price wrong, your home could be as appealing as a warm pint of Carling.
The Problem with “It’ll Sell Eventually” Thinking
Picture this.
You list your home.
No viewings. No offers.
Your agent shrugs, “These things take time.”
A month later? Still nothing. So, they suggest a price drop.
Buyers, sensing weakness, either ignore it or lowball you.
Why? Because homes that sit on the market too long lose value in buyers’ eyes. If no one else wants it, why should they?
Waiting is not a strategy. Adapting is.
How Buyers Actually Decide to Buy (It’s Not What You Think)
You’d think buying a house is all about logic—comparing floorplans, ticking off checklists.
Nope.
Buying a home is emotional.
It’s picturing Christmas mornings in the living room. Summer BBQs in the garden. That feeling of “This is it.”
Buyers don’t just wake up and decide to buy. Their journey follows a pattern:
- The Lightbulb Moment 💡 – They realise it’s time to move.
- The Research Frenzy 🔍 – Rightmove becomes their second job.
- The Shortlist Showdown 🏡 – They narrow it down. Your home is competing.
- The Emotional Hook ❤️ – The moment they decide: This is the one.
Want your home to be the one? Make buyers fall in love before they even step inside.
Here are our 3 crucial steps…
1.Sell the Dream, Not Just the Specs
Most sellers do it all wrong.
They focus on features (4 bedrooms, modern kitchen, spacious garden).
They should be focusing on feelings (easy family living, the perfect spot for entertaining, a stress-free lifestyle).
❌ Wrong: “South-facing garden.”
✅ Right: “Sun-soaked space for Sunday brunch and evening drinks.”
❌ Wrong: “Open-plan kitchen/dining room.”
✅ Right: “The heart of the home—where breakfasts are eaten, homework is done, and friends gather over a bottle of wine.”
Buyers don’t just want a house. They want a lifestyle. Sell them the dream.
2.Don’t Just Show the Home—Stage the Lifestyle
Home staging isn’t just for million-pound properties. It’s for every home that wants to stand out.
✅ Declutter ruthlessly—buyers don’t want to see your life, they want to imagine theirs.
✅ Light it up—open curtains, switch on lamps, make every room feel bright and welcoming.
✅ Add a lifestyle touch—fresh flowers, a coffee tray, an outdoor table set for alfresco dining.
Your home should look Pinterest-perfect—not sterile, but aspirational.
3.Price Smart—Because Buyers Are Watching
Overpricing is the fastest way to kill your sale.
Buyers aren’t stupid. They’ve done their research. If your home is overpriced, they’ll scroll right past it.
Worse? If you start high and drop later, buyers smell desperation.
✅ Price it right from Day One.
✅ Create demand.
✅ Let buyers compete, driving the price up—not you bringing it down.
Your Agent’s Strategy Matters (and So Does Their Energy)
If your agent’s grand plan is “stick it on Rightmove and wait,” you’re in trouble.
A good agent:
📌 Proactively sells, not just lists.
📌 Gives real-time market feedback.
📌 Works to get you the best offer—not just any offer.
If they’re giving you the energy of a damp tea towel, run.
The Secret: Get Buyers to Emotionally Commit Before They Even Walk In
Most sellers assume the sale happens during the viewing.
Wrong.
Buyers decide before they even step inside.
They’re forming opinions based on:
✅ Photos—Is it bright, inviting, well-staged?
✅ Descriptions—Does it sell a dream or just list specs?
✅ Price—Does it scream “fair deal” or “overpriced—avoid”?
Get those things right, and by the time buyers arrive, they already want it.
Final Thought: Want to Sell Fast? Think Like a Buyer.
The sellers who win in today’s market are the ones who get inside the buyer’s head.
Remember:
✔ They don’t just list features—they sell a lifestyle.
✔ They price smartly to create demand, not wait for it.
✔ They make sure their home feels irresistible before a buyer even steps through the door.
Because in the end, buyers don’t just buy houses. They buy the life they imagine inside them.
So, what’s your home saying?
📞 Thinking of selling or trying to? Let’s have a chat about how to make your home the one buyers want first. No pressure, just solid advice.
📩 sales@matchproperty.co.uk
📞 01271 410108