Over the recent years we have worked with hundreds of home sellers to help them move on.

During this time we have met thousands of buyers. From our observations, there are six major categories that buyers fit into.

Why is this important? Because marketing your home plays a huge part in the final outcome.

Understanding who your target market is allows you to tailor your marketing campaign to get the best sales result available in the market place.

The six types of buyers are:

First home buyer: These tend to be the generation Y, however they do come in any age group and may stay at home longer with their parents to save money for their deposit.

They often seek visually appealing spaces, but have a limited budget with a strong focus on just getting into the market. They need guidance throughout the process and rely heavily on the influence of friends, family and professionals such as their solicitor.

Family buyers: These people make up a considerable part of the market. Often they are looking for good-size yards and proximity to schools and transport.

They look for lifestyle elements in the home but they prefer space. Often they are moving from double income to single income in order to grow the family.

Increasingly, both partners work more now than they did in the past, which can see a greater emphasis on work-from-home features such as a large study.

Prestige buyers: These are making up a large part of the coastal market, with aspirational types looking for good-quality homes with premium features.

They are prepared to pay above market prices for the right property but look for longer periods of time to find the perfect home. Often the location plays just as large a role as the actual property features.

Life-change buyers: This is an increasing section of the marketplace, as relationship issues have an impact on the family life cycle.

Relationship separations are on the increase, which results in a large section of the market looking for a comfortable home within their new budget – which is often a considerable change to the property they were living in.

Other life changes include a death or illness in the family. These buyers often look for guidance and are cautious about whether it is the right property move.

Retirees: Again, this is another significant section of the market, as retirees are attracted to the lifestyle elements that the Sunshine Coast offers. They are in search of the perfect spot to take the foot off the accelerator, unwind and relax in the new environment.

Investors and developers: They are the seasoned property experts who know the market place well and look for good buys for future capital growth, investment return or redevelopment potential.

Dependent upon the style of property you have, it may suit one or more of these types of buyers. In negotiating your sale, always consider who the buyer is and what you can do to assist your agent in the selling process.

For example, first home buyers may need to inspect the property with various advisors before they make their decision. If this is the case, allowing access to the property will make it easier for them to move forward with their offer on your home.

We often find that in the pace of a negotiation, many owners forget the stress that the buyer undergoes in moving forward with their offer. As professional agents, we are there to bring both parties together, helping them through the sales process and achieving great sales results.