This is the first step towards making selling a reality. Every home owner wants to achieve the best possible price within a timescale which suits their needs and onward move. We will demonstrate to you how we use innovative marketing techniques in order to help you achieve this.
It is essential that you invite a well-established and trustworthy agent with a thorough knowledge of your area who will give you sound advice about trends in the local property market.The appointment normally takes around half an hour to allow the valuer to refine the market value of your property and explain why their agency should be your marketing representative. You will also have the chance to decide whether you feel comfortable with the agent and to ask questions about the sales process. On average, people only sell three times during their lifetime, and as processes are always changing, no question is a silly question.
For most of us our property is our most valuable asset so you will want to know it is in good hands.Therefore, selecting an agent will be the most important decision you make when selling your property.There are many questions which should be asked, such as:
Choose the agent with whom you feel most comfortable and confident that they will achieve for you the highest sales price possible. Choosing the agent offering the cheapest fee is not usually the best way of going about things. The difference in fees in relation to the value of your property is negligible and the better agent will obtain a higher sale price through to completion. Choosing the best agent can pay for your fee two or three times over. There is truth in the saying 'You get what you pay for'.
First impressions are vital to attract potential buyers, letting them see photographs on our websites and to further impress them on viewing. So keep your home inviting by ensuring that it looks and smells clean, is tidy and free from clutter, although it doesn't have to be a show home! The aim is to prompt good offers and achieve the maximum price.
The internet is increasingly the first place potential purchasers will begin their property search, so a few questions worth asking are:
When potential buyers are out and about in the area:
At David Conway & Co. all the answers to these questions will be an emphatic ‘YES'.
We will ensure that your property is visible to as many potential buyers as possible both online and in the real world, and that such interest is converted into many viewings. The more viewings you get the more offers you will receive and we will use this competition to raise and secure the sale price.
Whether you accept or reject an offer is entirely your choice. Aside from the price offered, you should also consider other aspects, such as the financial ability of the buyer to proceed and their deposit amount, their buying position and timescales (whether they are first time buyers, have nothing to sell, are sold subject to contract, on the market etc.), and whether they have placed any conditions on their offer.
Once we have agreed a sale, you will need to instruct a solicitor to deal with the conveyancing, and they would also deal with your purchase if any.
We suggest using a recommended solicitor who we trust to deal with the progress of your sale efficiently and wisely. You will generally get what you pay for, so avoid selecting a cheap conveyancer who will be unable to provide a satisfactory and speedy service. They are likely to lack full qualifications and experience, and work on a ‘panel' basis which lacks continuity.
A good solicitor can make or break a sale. They must act in your best interests whilst gaining the co-operation of 'the other side'. They should be approachable to both you and ourselves as we would need to have regular contact and updates from them during the course of a sale.
You may have a solicitor you have used before who you know and trust, but if not, we enjoy a good working relationship with a number of experienced local solicitors who we can recommend, all of whom follow The Law Society's National Protocol for domestic conveyancing.
Throughout the process we will liaise with you, your solicitor, your buyer's solicitor, your buyer, mortgage brokers, and other agents if there is a chain, updating you and ensuring that satisfactory progress is maintained.
Your solicitor will send the buyer's solicitor a draft contract with the particulars of the sale and price. They will send you forms asking you about your property and its fixtures and fittings which you should complete straight away and return to them to put with the contract. Also provide them with any certificates and guarantees for works or inspections to do with the property.
The buyer's solicitor will raise enquiries about the contract and documents, so be prepared to respond clearly and promptly in order not to delay the sale process.
Unless they are cash purchasers, when your buyer has received their mortgage offer following survey and their solicitor is content with answers to all enquiries, a completion date can be agreed by all parties. Seller and the buyer will be called in by solicitors to sign contracts. The buyer will lodge a non-refundable deposit with their solicitor. Once authorisation has been given by both parties, the solicitors will exchange contracts, at which point the transaction becomes legally binding and the buyer would forfeit monies should they default on completion.
Moving day has arrived! The outstanding monies will be transferred to your solicitor who in turn will transfer them to you after deducting any fees. They will also redeem your mortgage (if any).
On completion you must ensure that the property is vacated and that no belongings remain unless it has been agreed in writing by both parties beforehand. You must also ensure that all keys are given to your agent to enable full access by the new owner.
You must take meter readings before you leave and inform the utilities companies.
Employ the post office to redirect your post to your new address and let anyone important know that you have moved.
You should do this at least two weeks before completion.
In our most recent survey 99% of our customers would recommend us to others of which 100% were either satisfied or very satisfied with our service.
More properties exchanged and let in the last 12 months than any other local agent
More new sales and lettings instructions in the last 12 months than any other local agent
In the last 12 months, we have completed the most sales and lets in the area, over 10% more sales and over 3 x the amount of lets of our closest competitor.
