Selling your property ? The first time sellers guide

When the time comes and you want to sell your home, you might be at a loss as to how to even put your home on the market. The whole selling process can be far less stressful if you know what you’re doing. That’s why we have put together a few words of advice and tips to help you on your way.

The first step

Before you put your property on the market you need to make it selling and viewing ready. There are a few minor things which you can do which can make an impact.

When you are preparing to show off your home to potential buyers, it is very important to ensure that it feels homely, yet clean. This is a delicate balance to achieve, but making sure you de-clutter is a sensible first step. This is especially important as buyers want to picture themselves living in their new home. For example, try drawing attention to the kitchen by removing the kettle and toaster – creating a false effect of space.

If you have any small outstanding repairs make sure you fix them before a buyer comes round or your estate agent takes any pictures where these issues might be visible.

Putting it on the market

Firstly you will need to get a valuation carried out on your home. You can either get an estate agent or surveyor to do this for you. This will give you an idea of how much you should put it on the market for. Finding an agent to suit you can be a challenging task, just try and shop around and find the best deal. Our surveyor in Stoke told us some questions you should ask your estate agent:

• What are your fees?
• How will my home be marketed? There might be additional charges for different packages.
• Do you have any buyers who might be interested in my property?

Your estate agent will be your best friend when going through the selling process. They will be the ones to arrange any viewings and will be marketing your property to its full potential. Choosing the right estate agent is the key to your home being successfully sold.

Costs

You will be surprised how many fees there are associated with selling a home and you will need to incorporate these into your budget. If you choose to advertise through an estate agent, you will need to pay agency fees.

In England and Wales it is necessary for you, as a seller, to provide an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). It is a document which tells you how energy efficient your home is.

You will also have to pay solicitor or legal conveyancer fees. They will deal with the legal aspects of the selling process. These fees are usually lower than the fees involved when buying a home.

If you are relocating, you need to keep some money aside for removal costs. These costs will vary depending on how far you’re moving or how many belongings you are taking with you. Just get a number of quotes from different companies and also check customer reviews, it pays to shop around.

Getting an offer

Once potential buyers have viewed your home they may make you an offer. This might be below what you are asking. There is no need to accept or reject an offer straight away, and it is always best to sleep on it and get back to them in a day or two.

If you choose to accept the offer this is usually ‘subject to survey’; This means as long as the survey results come back okay, the buyer will proceed with the sale.

Remember, the offer is not accepted or legally bound until the contracts have been exchanged.

Things to remember

• You may not get the exact price you wanted for your home, but that’s okay. With advice from your estate agent they may be able to help you haggle.

• Make your home the best it can be. Keep everything tidy and clutter-free: Don’t forget about its curb appeal as well.

• Keep on top of any paperwork as this will make things move along quicker and create a stress free sale.

• Your estate agent will be able to help you with any issues you have concerning the sale of your home.