Selling Your Property
As it is probably your most valuable asset, when it comes to selling your property or home, a local agent with considerable local knowledge and experience is essential. As such, we are fully committed to providing you with a top quality service and ensuring that things move along as swiftly and smoothly as possible. We provide our service at competitive commission rates, and on a no sale no fee basis.
What is my property worth?
If you’re thinking of selling (or letting) your property, your main interest is likely to be what it’s worth. To find out, simply fill in and send us the quick form on the right, and we will be in touch shortly to arrange an appointment.
For your information, below is our brief guide to the selling process. We will be delighted to provide more detailed information if required.
The Selling Process
Market valuation
One of our trained valuers will make an appointment to visit your property to determine its market value, discuss a marketing strategy, and explain our fees and terms of business.
Prepare your property for viewings
Presenting your property in its best possible condition will assist greatly in achieving a speedy sale at a market price. Good first impressions are all important. Further down this page we provide some guidance and tips on preparing and presenting your property in the best possible way.
Marketing the property
Once we have obtained relevant details and taken pictures of your property, we will prepare marketing material and request your approval. We would usually then market your property on our website, on property portal sites, in the local press, and by telephone and mail to suitable waiting purchasers on our books.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Before marketing a property for sale, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be commissioned. Please see below for more information.
The Viewings
Ordinarily a member of our sales team would meet prospective purchasers at your property and show them around. However where the owner prefers to carry out the viewing, this would be fine by us.
Receiving offers
All offers received will be notified to you both by telephone and in writing. As part of our service we will if necessary negotiate between yourself and the purchaser to arrive at a mutually agreed sale price.
Instruct a solicitor
It is at this point that you should instruct your solicitor or conveyancer to act for you and liaise with the purchaser’s solicitor.
Legal work
We will prepare a memorandum of sale, and send it to all parties concerned. Upon receipt your solicitor will prepare a draft contract and send it to the purchaser’s solicitor, who will then make preliminary enquiries, conduct local and land registry searches, and once enquiries are complete, approve the draft contract.
Progressing the sale
As part of our service, during these processes we will keep in regular contact with all parties, ensure that any queries are ironed out, and generally work towards keeping the wheels turning towards a smooth completion.
Exchange of Contracts
Once the legal preliminaries are completed and paperwork prepared, and the purchaser has the necessary finance offer in place, contracts of sale are signed and exchanged, and a deposit usually 10% of the sale price is paid by the purchaser. At this point a date for completion will be agreed.
Completion of sale
Completion takes place when the balance of the purchase price is received, and ownership of the property is transferred. Keys will be handed in to our office, and and passed on the the happy purchaser.
Energy Performance Certificates For Sale Properties (EPCs)
Before marketing a property for sale, you must commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC tells you and the prospective buyer how energy efficient your property is, the impact the property has on the environment, and includes recommendations on ways to improve the property’s energy efficiency. You can start marketing your property before the EPC is ready, but it must be made available and added to all marketing material within 28 days. It normally takes two to three days for an EPC to be delivered once you’ve placed the order. EPCs can only be produced by accredited Domestic Energy Assessors.
Preparing your property for market
Outside
First impressions are very important. Stand at the front of your property and view it with a fresh eye. If you have a front garden or driveway, make sure the grass is cut, any rubbish or bins are removed, borders are weed free, shrubs are trimmed, and the porch is cobweb free.
If the drive is not large consider parking your car elsewhere to give more of an impression of space. If it’s spring or summer and you have no flowers planted, it may be worth buying and planting a few new ones to provide a splash of colour.
Interior
If you are moving, it would rarely make sense to spend much money on improving your property just to sell. Better to save it for your new home. It would however be sensible to carry out any small repairs that may be required, to give the impression that the property has been well maintained. If any rooms need decorating, choose a light and neutral colour, which would appeal to a wider range of purchasers.
For viewings, all rooms should of course be tidy, clean and uncluttered, but bathrooms and kitchens should be spotlessly clean. A spray of scent or a fragrance in the bathroom shortly before a viewing can make it seem more attractive. In the kitchen, the aroma of percolating coffee is guaranteed to enhance the general impression of homeliness.
Have carpets and curtains cleaned if necessary. If you are a dog owner, remember that not everyone is a pet lover, so have someone take Offenbark for a walk during viewings.
Create a feeling of space in your property by removing any unnecessary furniture if possible, and tidy away clutter. Put away personal items such as ornaments, souvenirs, and family photos. Although personal to you, they are not to the viewer, and clear shelves and space can improve the overall feel of the rooms.
Viewings
Make sure your property is warm and well lit when you are expecting viewers, as this will make it feel more homely. If carrying out the viewing yourself, take your time, don’t rush the process, and remember that there is no need to talk all the time. Give them time to think and get the feel of the place, and imagine the property as their own. For most purchasers the property has to feel right, as well as meet their preconceived specifications.
Post viewing feedback
Take notice of any post-viewing feedback we may provide. If several viewers have the same comments, it makes sense if possible to do something about it.
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