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17th May 2016
Selling your home is often an exciting endeavour. But it can also be daunting, especially if you’re a first-time seller.
Potential buyers will be coming into your home and making snap judgements about its condition and decor, looking for areas that they can put their own stamp on and, understandably, viewing with caution. Emotions often run high during this process, which is why it’s important to ensure you have a clear plan of action to carry you through from the moment you make the decision to sell to the day of completion.
Once you have everything in order, the process will be much smoother and you’ll be able to enjoy the excitement of your next big venture.
As soon as you’ve made the decision to move, you should ensure you have all your finances in order. Notify your lender that you are planning to sell, and establish how big your outstanding mortgage is.
Once your house is valued, you can calculate how much money you will have after you’ve paid off the mortgage. This is especially important if you’re planning to buy a new home. You may also be able to transfer your mortgage to your new property, should you need to.
In Brighton and Hove’s competitive market, you can never be too sure how quickly your house will sell - organising your finances is a good way to ensure a smoother process.
Choosing the right estate agent is key to selling your property. This decision should be made based on a range of factors - not just the agent that offers the highest valuation and lowest commission but the one who understands the market within your local area and offers the best advice, tailored to you.
When looking for the right agent, speak to friends and neighbours who have moved recently, and ask for any recommendations. Carry out your own research to find the best agents in your local area, and making sure you consider the following:
● What professional bodies do they belong to? Estate agents have to belong to an Ombudsman but they can also choose to sign up and become qualified and licenced to other codes of conduct, for example the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). For an Estate Agent to be a licensed member of the NAEA, they need to have an NAEA qualified person working in each office. This shows a commitment to excellence within the profession and is a good indicator that an estate agent is trustworthy and their staff, well-trained.
● What other properties are they selling, and how quickly do they come off the market?
● How do they market themselves? Are they well respected in the community?
● How many of their properties achieved the asking price? This is a good indication that their valuation is accurate and they are well equipped to achieve the best possible price for your property.
Once thoroughly researched, create a shortlist to carry out a valuation. The key is not to automatically go for the highest valuation, as an overpriced property is hard to sell.
Preparing your home for viewings could help you sell quickly, and could even add value to your property.
The first step is to declutter and simplify. Organise a big clean out and take the opportunity to get rid of some clutter. If you have a large amount of furniture, consider putting some into storage while you sell your home.
Give your property a fresh lick of paint. Neutral colours give a good impression of light and space, and provide visitors with a blank canvas, which helps them to visualise how they could make your house their home.
When potential buyers have first or second viewings, nothing can be more off-putting than spotting things that need repairing before they’ve even signed a contract.
Do you have an odd jobs list of things you'll get to “someday”? Now is the time to address them.
Do a walkthrough of your home, or better still ask a friend or family member to view your property through fresh eyes. The sooner you address the little fixes around your home, the better your chances are of selling quickly.
The kitchen is the focal area of the house, and is worth the most per square foot. Revamping your cabinets is an inexpensive way of increasing your property's face value without the expense of buying and fitting a new kitchen. Declutter the surfaces and tidy up your cupboards.
You may also want to negotiate leaving your white goods as part of the sales package. If you choose to do this, they must be included in the contract.
Before your house goes on the market, give your agent any useful property documentation, such as:
• Gas and electrical safety certificates
• Building regulations certificates
• Council tax, utility, buildings and contents insurance bills, so potential buyers can estimate running costs
• Lease details, service charges and ground rent bills (for flats)
These important details can save a lot of time when trying to sell, as any serious buyer will want to know these details before they make an offer. The sooner you prepare these documents, the better position you will be in to move forward.
Now you’ve got your property on the market, it’s time to really show off your property. Although you may want to showcase your home yourself, it’s sometimes best to leave it to your dedicated estate agent. Viewers may feel uncomfortable looking around someone else’s home and it could prevent them saying what they actually feel - good or bad.
Work with your estate agent to create a property insights guide so your agents can explain the best things about the property, as well as details on the local area, shops and schools etc.
Make sure there is as much natural light as possible, and if it happens to be an evening viewing, take some time to create mood lighting and show the property in the best light.
Congratulations, you've received an offer! If your offer is coming in lower than expected, then now is the time to negotiate. Buyers are often looking to spend as little as possible, but chances are they are just testing the water for a sale. Go back with a counteroffer and if the buyer is serious, you may receive a second offer. Here is the time to secure the sale - and remember, the longer your property is on the market, the less desirable it becomes to potential buyers.
Once you have negotiated your offer, organised your finances and exchanged contracts, now is the time to prepare for the big move!
Get quotes from at least three removal companies and use your negotiating skills to get the best price.
Don’t underestimate how long packing and organising will take. Start packing up smaller and less frequently used items first, and don’t forget the other areas of your house, including the garden, attic and garage.
Ensure you inform the relevant people of your change of address. Create a list of key contacts and don’t forget to tell your services and utilities providers! For a small fee you can set up your post to be redirected, before you move, with the Royal Mail.
On moving day, create a moving day checklist to ensure that you and your moving team are organised and prepared for the day, this includes showing your removers around your old and new property so they can make a plan of prioritising loading and offloading.
Consider colour coding your boxes so it is easier to unload and unpack when you arrive at the new property, and use masking tape on the floors to show where you want furniture to go.
We can’t promise that selling your house will always be easy, but with our helpful tips and a trusted estate agent, you can minimise stress and look forward to the rewarding next step.