If you are thinking about selling your home, here are a few handy tips from us.
Working with your agent
Collaborate with your agent and make them work for you. At Winkworth, we believe every seller and their home is unique. We would like you to tell us what made you fall in love with your home and what you enjoy most about it now. We will highlight this information when we start marketing your home to like-minded buyers.
Make sure your agent is aware of your situation, too. If you are just assessing the water and are not 100% committed to moving, they need to know. Likewise, if you cannot move for six months, or, if you need to move imminently, tell your agent and they may be able to regulate the pace of the sale.
Listen to your agent’s advice. They do know the local market and fundamentally, they have your interests at heart.
Money matters
Setting an asking price will be one of the biggest decisions you make in this process. Invite a selection of local agents to come in and value your property, but do not just go with the agent that provides the highest valuation and/or the lowest fee. An over-inflated asking price may really inhibit the speed of the sale. A low agent fee may mean you get a mediocre service at best.
Do your own research on the Land Registry website and find out what comparable properties to yours have sold for in the area. If an agent gives you a much higher valuation than the others, ask them to provide examples of comparable sales.
Preparing your home
There is no avoiding those little DIY jobs that have been waiting to be done for years when you are looking to sell. Take some time to fix those loose floorboards, finish paint jobs, nail down the squeaking floorboard and fit the last skirting board. These details matter.
Once that is done, have a good clear out. Get rid of any clutter and thin out your personal items, like bulky ornaments, family photographs, paperwork, and toys. This gives buyers the space to visualize themselves living in your house.
Before the viewings begin, make sure your home is sparkling clean from top to bottom, especially the kitchen and bathroom. If necessary, have the carpets professionally shampooed, particularly if you have pets.
Improve your home’s curb appeal, too. Paint your front door, polish up the brass (if you have any) and sweep away any leaves from the front of the house. Mow the lawn and make sure your garden looks neat and tidy. Show how particular areas can be used for al fresco dining with strategically placed garden furniture.
By law, you will need to commission an EPC (energy performance certificate) for your property. Your estate agent can help you to organize this. You will not be able to market the property without one, so get it sorted as soon as possible.
Line up with your solicitor and do some pre-planning.
Instruct a solicitor from the outset so that you are ready for action. Waiting until you have accepted an offer can delay the process unnecessarily.
Make sure you have all your paperwork in order as this can really speed things up. So, if your property is leasehold or share of freehold, make sure you have the papers ready to pass on to your solicitor. Likewise, obtain any planning or building consents well in advance – these can help clinch a sale. Your estate agent and solicitor will be able to advise you on the type of paperwork you need to gather.
When the buyers are in
It is usually best to let your estate agent show the buyers around whilst you go out – they will feel more comfortable if you are not there. This means they can have an open discussion about your house without fear of causing offence. They will also be able to take their time imagining how your home could become their home.
It is a tricky one but try and work around viewings. It really helps if buyers can view your home at a time that suits them. If not, there is the risk they will see another property and forget yours.
If you have tenants on the property, give them plenty of notice about your plans and keep things friendly. That way, they are more likely to keep the place looking tidy and accommodate views.
If possible, pack your pets off for a day trip to the neighbor’s or in-laws. Another nice touch is to leave any parking space you may have free for the buyer. Something as simple as an easy park will help ensure they enter your home in a good frame of mind.
Avoid strong cooking smells and do not smoke in the house in the run up to viewings. Open windows and place a few bunches of fresh flowers around the house to freshen things up and demonstrate that you care about what the buyer thinks.
Post-viewings
Do take feedback on board – if all the feedback from viewers points towards a particular issue – do something about it.
