We understand that selling your property, especially for the first time, can be a worrying experience and, with this in mind, our most important consideration is providing you, the vendor, with the best possible service and the right buyer for your property.
We never forget that the property is your most important asset and can confidently assure you that by instructing us to act as your agents, your asset will be in professional and caring hands.
Because we are a small firm, we’re able to offer a personal service, with attention to detail, whilst at the same time maintaining a high standard of competence and professionalism.
Our fees are competitive and may be open to negotiation dependent on the level of service required. We are particularly committed to investment landlords and savings that can be made on the smallest of portfolios.
When choosing an estate agent, spend time finding out about the agents in your local area, look for testimonials on their websites or online reviews.
Monitor which agents are selling properties locally. You can do this by looking in your local newspaper, driving around your area keeping an eye on ‘for sale boards’ and talking to friends, family members and neighbours.
Prior to an appraisal visit from the estate agent, think about what type of service you want from them - particularly any extras, such as professional photography of properties on their website. Do they have a code of practice?
Are they a member of either the Property Ombudsman (formerly known as the Ombudsman for Estate Agents) or Ombudsman Services: Property? All Estate Agents must belong to one of these two Office of Fair Trading-approved redress schemes. You can check on the schemes website whether an agent is a member.
You must have a valid EPC before your property can be marketed. They are valid for ten years and we can check if you have one or can organise one on your behalf.
List down the things you expect from your estate agent and ask them to demonstrate how they can meet these expectations.
Fees and valuation aside, make conclusion on your agent by the way you feel about him/her and their company ethos. Are you comfortable working with them?
Are you feeling confident in their ability to help you sell at the best price?
Be fair with your expectations but make it clear why you want those standards.
Professional agents recognise the importance of presentation; don’t feel awkward to discuss this with them. Is there any advice or simple improvements which could be done to achieve a higher price.
Are you prepared to do what it takes to make a sale and achieve the best price from the eventual buyer?
Congratulations, your property has received interest and now you have a formal offer. Be prepared to negotiate, you don´t have to accept the first offer you receive and you don´t even have to accept the highest offer. Buyers who don`t have to wait for mortgage approval, or aren´t selling a property themselves are often preferable as the paperwork process will be completed much faster than those awaiting approval or in a chain.
Upon accepting the offer, you may be asked to take the property off the market. You don´t have to do this but the buyer is just protecting themselves against you accepting a higher offer after you have agreed a price with them. Equivalently be aware that a buyer may change their offer at a later date if they feel they might be able to negotiate the price down even lower.
Ensure your agent has checked the monetary and accommodation statuses of your potential buyer and that solicitors have been instructed before you agree to take the property off the market.
Conveyancing is the legal name given to transferring ownership from one person to another. It is worth choosing a conveyancer before you agree the sale but they can only begin drawing up a contract after you accept an offer.
You can shop around and compare prices for conveyancers. It is sometimes possible to get a no-sale no-fee arrangement, whereby if the sale falls through you don´t pay.
You will need to establish the finer details with the conveyancer like what fixtures and fittings you will be including with the property. You will also have to complete a questionnaire about the property. This is where you need to disclose the legal boundaries of the property but it also includes some more personal questions like any neighbourly feuds.
Once the contracts have been exchanged there is usually a period of around two weeks to make necessary arrangements before you can release the keys to the buyers.
You´ve maneuvered your way through the conveyancing minefield and are all ready for completion. It is advisable to move out before this day to minimise stress levels, this also allows the buyer to check the property has been left in the agreed condition with the agreed fixtures and fittings.
On the final day of completion, the money is transferred and the keys are exchanged, often at midday. Your solicitor will update the Land Registry with the new owner’s details and all that remains to do is say goodbye to the house.
The solicitor’s fees will be sent to you on completion of the sale along with the sale price of the house.