Selling Your Home in Chard or Axminster? Discover Matilda Clarke’s Strategy for Success

Selling your home is one of those decisions where getting the right advice from the beginning can make a real difference.

It isn't simply about choosing an asking price, taking some photographs and putting the property online. A successful sale requires careful preparation, strong marketing, good communication, experienced negotiation and someone taking responsibility for the journey from start to finish.

I'm Matilda Clarke, your personal Nest Associates estate agent covering Chard, Axminster and the surrounding areas.

I began my career in property at 18 and hold a Housing and Property Management qualification. Since then, I've gained experience across residential sales, lettings, new homes and shared ownership, giving me a broad understanding of the different stages of the property journey.

My approach is straightforward: listen carefully, communicate clearly, market homes properly and provide the personal service I'd expect if I were moving myself.

Local knowledge across Somerset and Dorset

Having grown up and worked across Somerset and Dorset, I have a strong understanding of the communities, amenities and different property markets across the area.

That's particularly valuable when working across Chard and Axminster, where buyers aren't simply comparing houses.

They're considering schools, transport links, countryside, village communities, access to the coast and what day-to-day life in an area might look like.

Understanding those details helps me market more than bedrooms and square footage.

It helps me sell the lifestyle that comes with the property.

A personal estate agency service

I believe estate agency works best when there is a real relationship between the homeowner and the person responsible for selling their property.

When you sell through Nest, you have your own dedicated local agent rather than being continually passed between departments or call centres.

That means I get to know you, your circumstances and your home.

I understand what's important about your move, what makes your property special and how we need to approach the market.

Most importantly, I remain involved throughout the process.

Preparing your home for sale

Successful marketing starts before your property goes live.

Sometimes small changes can have a surprisingly large impact on how buyers respond to a home.

That could mean decluttering, deep cleaning, completing minor repairs or reconsidering how a room is presented. Nest recommends preparing a home carefully before launch because those first impressions can influence both buyer appeal and perceived value.

My role is to help you look at your property through the eyes of somebody seeing it for the first time.

We don't want to remove everything that makes it your home.

We simply want buyers to immediately see why it could become theirs.

Property marketing designed to get noticed

Buyers now make extremely quick decisions online.

Your property may initially have only a few seconds to capture someone's attention as they scroll through Rightmove or social media.

That's why presentation matters.

Our marketing combines professional photography, video tours, creative property presentation, targeted digital campaigns, social media and major portals such as Rightmove.

But good property marketing isn't simply about producing attractive photographs.

It should identify what makes the property different and communicate that clearly.

A family home in Chard will potentially appeal to a different audience from a rural property on the Somerset–Dorset border or a home closer to Axminster and the Jurassic Coast.

Each deserves its own approach.

Getting the price right from the beginning

One of the most important decisions we'll make is how to position your property when it launches.

That doesn't necessarily mean choosing the highest suggested asking price.

We consider recent comparable sales, competing properties, current market conditions and buyer behaviour to arrive at a pricing strategy designed to generate the right level of interest.

Price influences how buyers find a property online, how they compare it with alternatives and how quickly they decide whether to arrange a viewing.

Getting that strategy right from day one gives us the strongest possible start.

Reaching buyers beyond Rightmove

Property portals are important, but they're only one part of how buyers discover homes today.

Social media gives us another opportunity to place properties in front of potential buyers, including people who may not yet be actively searching every day.

Nest's Early Bird strategy allows followers and subscribers to see forthcoming properties before they're released to the wider market, helping us build awareness around new listings before the full launch.

The aim isn't simply to generate as many views as possible.

It's to put your property in front of the right people.

Viewings should feel personal too

A viewing isn't simply an appointment in the diary.

It's an opportunity to understand how somebody feels about the property, answer their questions and help them appreciate features they might otherwise overlook.

Because I'm personally involved with the homes I represent, I understand the property and can communicate confidently with prospective buyers.

That also makes the follow-up more useful.

Rather than simply collecting a yes or no, I want to understand what's motivating the buyer, whether they have concerns and what might help move the conversation forward.

Negotiating the right outcome

When an offer is received, the headline number isn't the only thing that matters.

A buyer's financial position, mortgage arrangements, chain, timescale and circumstances can all affect the strength of an offer.

My role is to establish that information, advise you clearly and negotiate on your behalf.

Sometimes the strongest buyer isn't necessarily the person who initially makes the highest offer.

Understanding the complete picture allows you to make a better-informed decision.

Supporting you after the sale is agreed

Finding your buyer is a major milestone, but there is still plenty to do before moving day.

Once an offer has been accepted, Nest continues to manage the sales progression process, liaising with buyers, solicitors, agents and other parties, chasing updates and helping deal with issues that may arise before completion.

For me, maintaining that involvement is particularly important.

You shouldn't suddenly lose your main point of contact just because the property has gone under offer.

I'm there to support you throughout the process.

Experience across the whole property journey

Having worked across sales, lettings, new homes and shared ownership, I've been able to see property transactions from a number of different perspectives.

That broader experience helps me understand that every move is different.

Some sellers are upsizing. Others are downsizing. Some may be selling their first property, relocating or moving after many years in the same family home.

Whatever your circumstances, my aim is to provide honest advice, clear communication and dedicated support throughout.

Thinking of selling in Chard, Axminster or the surrounding area?

If you're considering moving, I'd be delighted to visit your property and talk through your plans.

There's no obligation and no pressure just an opportunity to understand what you'd like to achieve, discuss your property's current market value and explain the strategy I would recommend.

Read my Strategy for Success or request a free, no-obligation valuation today.

Matilda Clarke
Nest Associates | Chard & Axminster