Selling Guide
A step by step guide to selling property
We know the process can be daunting, so we have broken it down into a step-by-step guide to help you get the best price for your property and make selling your home that much easier.
Step 1 - How much is your property worth?
Step 1 - How much is your property worth?
The first step to selling your home is to get an up to date property valuation. Move estate agents provide free, no obligation market appraisals and, as one of the biggest estate agents, we value and sell hundreds of properties each month which means we have a wealth of knowledge and data to draw on when valuing your property.
Step 2 - Get your property ready for market
Step 2 - Get your property ready for market
You should aim to present your property in the best possible way and fix anything that could put off potential buyers. A fresh lick of paint, some new soft furnishings, plus a tidy up of the garden should help. These are small jobs but can greatly improve your chance of receiving an offer. At this stage you’ll also need to supply an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property. These are valid for ten years, so if you had one commissioned in the past you will need to double check that it is still valid.
Step 3 - Choose your estate agent and solicitor
Step 3 - Choose your estate agent and solicitor
When choosing your estate agent you should consider if they have plenty of experience, how much local insight they have, if they are able to effectively and proactively market your property, if they are affiliated to any professional or regulatory bodies and if they have a reputation for providing excellent customer service. At Move estate agents we consider these things to be essential when it comes to selling property successfully. Most estate agents are able to make a recommendation of which solicitor to use, but it’s also worth asking friends and family about their experiences and who they would recommend.
Step 4 - Prepare for viewings
Step 4 - Prepare for viewings
Once your property is on the market, you’ll need to keep on top of cleanliness and clutter every day in case of any unexpected viewings. Dust and dirt can dull a surface and give viewers the impression that work needs to be done, but a quick clean can reveal the real finish beneath and instantly refresh a property’s appearance. Scented candles and open windows can help keep the property fresh. These small but noticeable acts can help buyers picture themselves living in your property, making them more likely to place an offer. If you’re present while the viewings take place, you should try to offer an insight about what makes your property special- is it great for entertaining? Is it easy to keep warm in the winter? Are the neighbours friendly?
Step 5 - Receiving offers
Step 5 - Receiving offers
If you are selling your property through an estate agent then any interested parties must make an offer through them. If there is more than one interested party, your agent will keep you up to date with competing offers. You don’t have to choose the highest bidder, in fact you should consider your aims and how this relates to the buyer’s situation. If you want to move quickly, a chain free first time buyer or someone who has already sold their property may be the best option.
Step 6 - Accepting offers
Step 6 - Accepting offers
Once the final offer has been accepted, your estate agent will contact your solicitor who will then set the wheels in motion for the sale to take place. The buyer will also instruct their lender to value the property so they can finalise their mortgage offer. They may also commission a survey or homebuyer report at this point too.
Step 7 - Accepting offer exchanging contracts and completions
Step 7 - Accepting offer exchanging contracts and completions
The exchanging of contracts is carried out on your behalf by your solicitor or conveyancer. It is when the sale of your home becomes legally binding and once the contracts have exchanged you can be fairly certain that the sale of your house will go through. You will also receive a preliminary deposit from the buyer at this point which you would be able to keep if they pulled out of the purchase however, you would also be liable for penalties or legal action if you pulled out of the sale.
Step 8 - Completion
Step 8 - Completion
The completion date will be stated in the contracts and this is when the property will be transferred to the new owners. You must leave the property on this date and need to arrange for all of your belongings to be removed from the property, ready for the new occupants to arrive on the same day, once the final monies have been received.
Keep in mind that completion days are almost always on a weekday to allow the banks and solicitors to arrange transfer of monies and complete other necessary legal or financial actions that would be impossible to do on a weekend.
Step 9 - Celebrate
Step 9 - Celebrate
Completion day can be stressful for all concerned, especially if you’re part of a chain, but as the final step in selling your property it means that the worst is over and you can take some time to celebrate.
