Step by Step Guide to Sell a Property
Why Sales and Lettings are the agency to help get you moving.
Our independent team of knowledgeable and experienced estate agents have a proven track record of successful property sales and loyal returning customers.
Providing exceptional attention to detail, when it comes to customer service, we treat each and every client with the same high-level of care that this major life event deserves.
Working with vendors to successfully sell their properties within their individually desired timescale, we design our marketing strategies to fit specifically with each vendor’s personal goals.
We market our properties extensively across major property portals Zoopla and On the Market to ensure the best possible exposure to a wider audience of potential buyers.
Getting the right price
The first step to a successful sale is an accurate market valuation. Get the price too high and your property may not sell in the timescale you want. Too low and you could lose out financially.
At Sales and Lettings, we provide our vendors with completely FREE, No-Obligation, accurate and realistic market valuations.
Getting market ready
- Before listing your property, and prior to photographs being taken, to help you achieve the best possible price for your property, we recommend that you prepare your property to help it attract more interest and attention from potential buyers.
- Decluttering your property creates a more spacious impression and provides vendors with a clearer view of your property, as well as helping them envisage their own belongs in place.
- First impressions count so make sure your property provides great kerb appeal. The front of your property should be tidy, well-kept and rubbish free.
- Wheely bins (especially overflowing ones) are also unsightly so tuck them away somewhere out of sight if possible.
- Don’t forget the windows! Make sure your windows are sparkling clean, inside and out.
- A fresh coat of paint or varnish can give your property a new lease of life both inside and out so give your front door and any wooden sills and frames a new coat if applicable. If your doormat is looking a bit worse for wear, it’s well worth replacing it.
- Internally, plaster and fill any cracks in walls or ceilings, re-grout bathrooms and repaint any walls or paintwork where possible.
- Tighten any loose cupboard and door handles, and replace any missing light bulbs.
- Thoroughly air your property and subtly fragrance rooms with scented candles or air freshener (nothing too over powering) to create an inviting atmosphere for viewers.
- Before we come and take photographs and prior to viewings, make sure your property is looking at it's best.
- Tidy away or remove any miscellaneous clutter such toys clothes on chairs or hanging on doors.
- Make beds and straighten any cushions on sofas etc...
- Remove any pets and their associated paraphernalia (and nasty niffs!).
- Sweep up any fallen leaves or debris from external paths and doorways.
Energy Performance Certificate
Prior to marketing your property, you are legally required to provide an Energy Performance Certificate for inclusion in your property’s sales particulars.
An EPC provides information on the estimated energy efficiency of a property and rates this on an alphabetical scale A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
If you haven’t already obtained an EPC, we can arrange for one to be carried out for a nominal fee.
Only an accredited assessor can assess your property and provide an EPC. However once obtained, the certificates are valid for ten years.
EPC’s can be a very useful selling point, particularly for new or recently updated properties as they are more likely to have energy saving features such as double glazing, new boilers, loft insulation or solar panels. Thus, improving energy efficiency and making the property cheaper to run.
If you have made substantial home improvements that impact it's energy consumption, it’s well worth getting a new EPC before marketing your home.
Ready to Launch
Once we have prepared photographs, property details and floor plans, and an EPC has been provided, we will seek your approval before launching your property on our website, Zoopla and On the Market.
We will also provide you with a draft brochure for your approval prior to launch.
Instructing a Solicitor
There is a great deal of legal paper work involved in property sales so it is imperative that you appoint a conveyancing solicitor as early as possible to prevent delays in your sale. We can recommend a selection of trusted solicitors we have worked with previously and who have proven to be reliable and efficient.
Receiving an Offer
As soon as a potential buyer has made an offer on your property, we will immediately inform you both verbally and in writing. We will apply due to diligence and regarding to all the potential buyers in order to establish their financial situation to help you make an informed decision on whether to accept their offer.
Should you find an offer unacceptable, we will then negotiate with all parties to agree a more agreeable one.
Once an offer has been accepted, your appointed solicitors will then begin the conveyance process.
Exchange of Contracts
Once both vendor and buyer’s solicitors are satisfied with all the terms and conditions of sale, and all financial arrangements are in place, contracts will be signed and exchanged.
At this point, the buyer will pay their solicitor a deposit and a completion/moving day will be agreed.
Completion
Congratulations! Your property is now SOLD.
Completion day is the final step, and the day when the remaining balance of monies are transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor, and the keys are released to the new homeowner.