Sell Your Home Like Richie McCaw

Rugby is religion in New Zealand. 

Its pope - Richie McCaw. 

His elevation to sainthood guaranteed by the presence 30,000+ personal witnesses each time he performs miracles on the field.  

Arise Sir Richie.

Preparation and Planning

McCaw’s success is no accident. Ritchie is a fastidious preparer. Whether it is physical work in the gym, or the thoughts and phrases he jots down in his notebook the week before a test match. Nothing is left to chance. 

It is the same when selling your home - planning and preparation are paramount. Have a plan to sell and execute on it. Just like Richie would never go into a test match just hoping for a win, you should not take your home to market and just “chance your arm." Prepare your home for sale - make sure it is in top physical shape. Have a plan - how to price it, where and when you are going to advertise it, what you are prepared to compromise on in the negotiations and what you are not, and so forth. Don't leave things to chance.

Analysis and Feedback

The reason Richie McCaw has been successful so long is his adaptability.  His insightful analysis of the game and his role in it, feeds into his ability to change his play.  The result - a guaranteed place at the top for a long time. What used to be the fetcher is now the link man, the ball carrier and so forth. Ritchie's preparation includes analysing his performance after the fact. What went well, what didn’t. Looking for areas of improvement, for changes in the way the game is played, the way it flows. 

Any sensible marketing plan for your home should have a feedback loop. Look at what worked and what didn't.  Then make a decision on changes as a result. Adapt what you do. If the market is not jumping to the advertising, analyse why and change it. Maybe the buyers are different than what you thought, maybe the price, maybe the configuration. Look for sources of feedback - what are buyers saying at open homes? What are the objections raised? Gather facts - what homes are selling in your area and how do they compare to yours? But, take the blinkers off. Long term success comes from brutal honesty.

Richie McCaw is a rugby legend because of his planning, preparation and ability to change his game plan.  A powerful example.  Plan the successful sale of your home and prepare for its marketing carefully and in detail. But, all plans are just (hopefully) informed guesses - you need to have the strength to be honest and adapt and change what you are doing to be ultimately successful.

Pictures via Wikimedia Commons Jean-François Beauséjour [CC-BY-2.0].