10 Tips for first time sellers

Are you ready? Before you do anything, make sure you are 100% sure that you want to move as this is a life changing experience that you have to be sure of. Before you even think about going on the market, we would recommend you look at the locality of where you want to move and make sure it suits both your finances and your life plan. Talk to a financial advisor to make sure your prospective purchase is affordable and we would be happy to offer you free advice prior to your home coming on the market in this respect.

Valuation and your sale price. We will be happy to visit you and give you no obligation advise as to what our experts think you will achieve, your recommended marketing price and how this has been achieved taking in to consideration market trends at the time, comparable evidence and with our 29 years’ experience, peace of mind that these figures are 100% accurate.

Getting your home ready. We will help and advise you getting your home ready to achieve the most positive response and the best sale price. This could include advising you to complete DIY projects that have been on the back burner for months, patch up marks on the wall, clean windows and it’s a great opportunity to de-clutter. We would like to think we have all the best tips from mirrors make a room look bigger, to helping you make the best of your lighting both internally and externally. Prior to marketing, in accordance with regulations we will need to see your proof of ID and property ownership.

Have you chosen a solicitor? At this stage it is a good time to choose a solicitor. At Streets Ahead we will arrange for a no obligation quote to be sent to you, detailing all your legal expenses, including Stamp Duty, bank charges and all legal disbursements and we are happy to go through this in detail with you.

Viewings. At Streets Ahead, 96% of our viewings are accompanied by one of our fully trained experts and we have nearly 100 in your area. Some sellers find it awkward selling their home as it is so personal, but we know what to look for and will point out things like the favourable aspects, great neighbours and proximity to school, transport, your improvements and why you bought the house originally.

Offers. We are experts at receiving offers from prospective purchasers, most offers come through us and we will re-establish the prospective purchaser’s financial position to make sure they can afford your property and all their expectations with moving, then we will comprehensively communicate this with you, ensuring at all times that your sale price and time scale expectations are exceeded.

Sale Agreed. After a sale has been agreed it ordinarily takes weeks to get to the point where you legally commit to moving - you may remember this is called exchange of contracts, where you legally commit to your purchaser and fix a moving date. There are often hurdles along this journey and at Streets Ahead, each one of our branches has a property Progressor in house to help you along the way.

Surveys. Your buyer will have a survey as you probably will on your onward move and this may be a valuation which takes half an hour, a home condition report or a full structural survey which would ordinarily take a whole morning or afternoon.

You’re nearly there. After exchange of contracts it is time to pack and prepare for your move. Time to inform the council tax, utility companies and insurance companies that you are moving and the dates, don’t forget to get your post redirected and if you are selling a flat, you’re managing agent and possibly your freeholder. Don’t forget to book your removals for the day of completion.

Moving day. This is the day that your property officially changed hands. Your solicitor will register the transfer of ownership with the Land Registry and the monies and deed will be transferred by each party’s solicitor. Once your buyer has transferred the money to your solicitor, they will pay off your mortgage and advice that you have completed and it is time to move.