When you’re selling your house, it can be tricky to know where to start. To help you along the way, we’ve looked into the seven steps to selling a house or flat.
Ready to start your journey? Book your free valuation today.
1. Book the valuation and choose the right agent
It’s important that you research your potential agents first; do a search online, check their reviews on Google and generally see how you feel they come across.
Our recommendation is to invite three agents to value your property, but make sure you find out everything that is included within their fee and how they have come to their suggested sale price for your property. Armed with this information, you should be able to choose the right agent for you.
2. Check your finance
Moving home can be an exciting next step on your property journey. It is important however that you stay on top of costs and understand what you need to budget for.
Initially you should consider:
- How much your property is worth
- How much you can afford to purchase
- Any additional costs, including removals and tax implications
A cost of moving calculator can give you an idea of some of these costs, but a good agent will guide you through these.
3. Instruct your solicitor
Once you’ve decided to sell and have settled on your agent, it is a good time to instruct your solicitor. Doing this early can speed up the sale of your property sale once a buyer has had their offer accepted.
Your agent should be able to give you recommendations for solicitors they work with regularly.
4. Get your property ready for sale
To get the right buyer, you should aim to appeal to the broadest range of tastes, presenting your property in a good, clean, neutral fashion throughout.
Once you’ve instructed your agent, they will then take photos (inside and out) prepare your property details and begin marketing your property.
Make sure you have picked an agent who will market your property to get maximum coverage, including marketing on the major property portals, Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket and PrimeLocation.
5. Look at offers and negotiate your sale
Once your property begins attracting interest and viewings are taking place, your agent will start to qualify the viewers and assess who might be the best possible buyer according to your needs.
As offers are generated, your agent will present each offer to you as it comes in and negotiate on your behalf to get you the best price.
6. Sales progression
When the sale is agreed, and a buyer found, some agents think this is the point where their job is done. Good agents, however, will know that this is really when their job begins and will work hard to see your sale through – right up to completion.
Make sure your chosen agent offers this service for you. When you work with Country Properties, we’ll help you to achieve a seamless sales progression, keeping you informed every step of the way.
7. Exchange of contracts and completion of the sale
At each of these stages, there are things you should expect your solicitor and your agent to do and things you need to do yourself.
What to expect on exchange of contracts?
The agent will:
- Talk to you about your date for completion and ensure you’re preparing for the move
- Agree with you how you would like to handle the release of keys
What you should do:
- Begin packing your things
- Confirm arrangements for your belongings to be removed. Remember, this must be done by 2pm on completion day
- Ensure you begin to collate and label all the house keys which will need to be given to the agent
What to expect on completion day?
- Your solicitor will start the completion process and arrange for final transfer of funds to take place
- Your agent should call you once the solicitor has confirmed completion
- Release of keys to the buyer will take place at an agreed time.
Want to start your moving journey? Book your free valuation today.
