Selling your property can be a complex and stressful endeavour. However, if you follow a few insider tips from our expert estate agents, your property sale can run smoothly and close fast.
If putting your home or second property up for sale is on your to-do list, you are probably bracing yourself for a long and nerve-wracking process. You are not wrong to do so. Selling a property, especially in London, is not easy.
To help relieve you of any unnecessary additional stress, our estate agents have compiled a list of [property sale] guidelines based on their many years of experience in the London market.
Before the Property Sale
First of all, there are some important aspects that you will need to clarify before listing your [property for sale]. To be completely ‘sale-ready’, imagine that the sale is happening tomorrow. Do you have everything you need?
Here is a ‘before the sale’ list to help you be prepared:
- Have you started your own house-hunting process? Where will you move if the house is sold tomorrow?
Estate agents often advise their clients not to buy if the seller has an incomplete chain, meaning that they are not looking for a property themselves. The reason is that this can cause delays for the buyer to move into their new property, having to wait until the seller finds a new place and vacates the sold property.
- Do you have all your documents in order?
Double-check that you have all the legal documents and certificates issued and in order. Organize the property’s ownership documents, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), equipment guarantees, etc. to be ready for sale at any time.
- Do you know how much your property is worth?
You should put in some research work on prices for similar properties in the area even before you enlist the help of an estate agent. Knowing what your place is worth will help you manage your expectations and also avoid working with estate agents that overprice your property only to win you as a client. It is best practice to choose a [local estate agent] with plenty of experience in the area.
Getting the Property Ready
Now that you have your planning and documents part ready for the sale, check the condition of the property. It will need to be in tip-top shape for marketing pictures and prospective buyers.
Buyers can easily be put off by a property if it is not fit for viewings. How ready the property is for estate agents and buyers can also affect its sale price.
To avoid any unpleasant scenarios, make sure you go through this property sale checklist:
PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
Even if you don’t hire a specialized cleaning company and choose to do this yourself, the property must look as if it was professionally cleaned. It will help make it more appealing to buyers and it’s a price worth paying because it can drive the property value up.
REQUIRED REPAIRS
Don’t leave any details to chance. A new coat of paint and floor polish can do wonders for how well your property is received by potential buyers. Making the space inviting and not letting any mould or cracks ruin viewings is very important for the sale. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms.
AVOID CLUTTER
Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in the property you are [listing for sale]. Estate agents often take the time to go through the property with the seller to prepare it for viewings. You will want to take out any items that you don’t need any more and create an open, neutral space that can appeal to a wide range of buyers.
Going Through the Sale Process
Once the planning, documents, and property are all in place it is time to start the sale process. There are several ways you can go about it. You can choose to carry out the process yourself, entrust it to an [exclusive estate agent], or be represented by several estate agencies. A local estate agent can be a particularly good advantage to have because they have extensive knowledge of the local market and can save you a lot of time and effort.
No matter what you choose, follow these guidelines to ensure your property sale runs smoothly and the sale closes as fast as possible:
Have your answers ready
Before listing a property, estate agents usually make a list of potential questions they expect potential buyers to ask during the viewings. If you don’t have an estate agent to guide you, make a list of questions yourself. Having the relevant answers to these questions ready will show buyers that they can trust you and will encourage them to buy your property.
Show flexibility
Being open when dealing with prospective buyers will translate into how many offers you receive for your property. Try to accommodate things like evening or weekend viewings to show the property to as many interested people as possible. If your schedule doesn’t allow you or you have too much on your plate, entrust an [estate agent] with the viewing process on your behalf.
Track progress
The sale process has certain stages and these stages usually progress at a certain pace. If one stage is delayed, all further stages will be affected. You must pay attention to how well the viewing process is going along, how often you have viewings, and how many offers you receive for the property. If you have no viewings or offers over a long period of time, something must be wrong and your property sale needs some adjustments. It could be that the sale price is too high, or that the property is not being advertised and marketed properly. A good [estate agent] will guide you through all these stages and alert you of any events that may affect the sale process or the sale price.
The guidelines outlined by our experienced estate agents in this article are simple, yet crucial to a successful sale. Being informed, staying organized, and enlisting the help of a knowledgeable [local estate agent] can make a world of difference when you’re selling a property.
Following the advice of [our experts] is guaranteed to translate into a quicker sale for your property, a higher income resulting from the sale, and a lot less stress and pressure for you as a seller.
