Published: 12/02/2023
Everyone in a property chain wants to sell their property quickly and for the best price.Here's our guide on how to sell your property
It will pay dividends to take stock of the property and make any alterations that will help achieve your asking price. Whatever you choose, we advise you to speak to your local estate agent about the things that will make the most difference when selling your property.
Improvements that create a sense of space and privacy and give a good first impression will increase saleability. It's essential to not over-personalise so that it appeals to prospective buyers allowing them to adapt the property to fit their needs should they so desire.
Staging
When trying to sell your home quickly and most the most money, nothing matters more than staging your property.
Redecorate
Adding a lick of paint or doing general maintenance like filling cracks and holes can make a huge difference and doesn't have to cost the earth. Neutral colours appeal to purchasers and help give your home a new lease of life.
Smells help sell
The sense of smell is a powerful tool in the process of selling a property. A pleasant aroma can leave a lasting impression on potential buyers and create a positive atmosphere in the home. On the other hand, unpleasant odors can deter buyers and negatively impact the overall perception of the property.
Therefore, it's essential to ensure that the home is free of any unwanted odors. This could be achieved by cleaning carpets, washing windows and curtains, removing any pet odors, and airing out the property before viewings.
Lighting
Good lighting is essential on a drab day, so lamps in dark corners will help. It's better for the viewing to occur in daylight, but turn any outside lights on if a potential buyer is coming after dark.
Declutter
Never underestimate decluttering. A tidy, uncluttered room, and pay special attention to the high-impact rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom. Consider whether there's too much furniture in each room as this can make the property feel smaller.
Kerb appeal
First impressions count, and your home's front door can tell a lot about the rest of the house to first-time viewers. Make sure it looks new by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Even a new doorknob, house number, or name plaque can help.
Photography
Good photography plays a crucial role in selling a property. It is the first thing that potential buyers see when searching for a new home and can be the deciding factor in whether they schedule a viewing or not.
Asking price
Invite three estate agents to value your property so you can compare and research by searching property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla for current prices and prices achieved of properties similar to yours in the area.
Picking an estate agent
Ask for recommendations and inspect contract details.
Be sure you find out:
how do they market a property? ·
how much commission do they charge?
is VAT included?
do they insist on sole agency selling rights?
The latter means you pay the agent commission, even if you find a buyer yourself.
Check when you can disinstruct an estate agent if you're unhappy with their service.
Choose a mortgage advisor
Before you go to the market, check the details of your current mortgage, as there could be a hefty penalty for breaking the contract early if you're midway through a mortgage term. However, some mortgages are portable, so you can move the same deal to a new property.
Get your paperwork in order
Getting your paperwork in order pays dividends. For example, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This shows how much energy a property uses and that energy typically costs. It gives an efficiency rating from A down to G and lasts 10 years. You may still have a valid EPC.
Choose a reputable solicitor
A solicitor manages the legal transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer. Answering questions promptly helps keep the process moving; the same goes for completing and returning signed paperwork.
Once contracts are exchanged, the sale is legally binding for both parties. There are penalties for breaking them.
Make sure you have paperwork, such as bank statements, proof of ID, mortgage information, and title deeds for the property.
Prepare for a home survey to be carried out by the buyer. If it throws up any snags, a buyer might use it to renegotiate the price. Discuss flaws you know about honestly, so they're already built into early-stage offers.
If you are thinking of selling your property, we would love to have the opportunity to discuss how we can help you.
