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I WANT TO SELL MY HOUSE

Choose the best time to sell

Before you put up a ‘For sale’ sign outside your front door, spend some time researching the housing market. After all, you will boost your chances of selling your property quickly if you put it on the market when buyer demand is high. Buyers competing for properties will help encourage best offers. Think about seasonal demand to ensure you have every opportunity to sell your home fast.

Spring

• Traditionally a good time to sell

• The market tends to be busy with potential buyers

• Better weather, light and possible sunshine will help boost the appeal of your home

• Your garden will be in spring bloom

• Families often try to buy a home to coincide with the end of the academic year

Summer

• School holidays can stall transactions with family buyers

• Try to get your home on the market as early as possible

Autumn

• Traditionally a good time to sell

• The weather is still good and there are no major holidays

• Buyers and sellers don’t want to be transacting over Christmas so try to get your home on the market as early as possible

Winter

• This is considered to be a tougher time to sell

• Try to put your home on the market in the New Year

Look at what is happening in your local housing market as well as at a national level. Check with your local council if there are any proposed or consented developments in the area. Plans that will boost house prices in the area, such as new transport, schools, homes and mobile phone masts, can boost your chances of a quick sale and a best price. However, try to avoid selling your home during construction of these projects.

You can read Prime Location’s news site for the latest, up-to-date intelligence on the national housing market.

To learn more about what is happening to interest rates, house prices, mortgages and more, you can also:

• Speak with estate agents

• Chat with friends and family

• Read national and local news

If you have to put your home on the market immediately during a quiet period in the housing market, then you may have to readjust your price accordingly.

It is recommended you try and sell your home quickly – buyers tend to get suspicious when a home has been on the market for a long period of time.

Agree an accurate house price

It is important to price your home accurately if you want to sell it fast. You should contact local estate agents to get a valuation for your home. They should not charge for this. It’s worth approaching several agents in your area about their services as they may offer different services and fees. Try to get three different agents to value your home. Remember – the highest valuation doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a quick sale. You need to agree an asking price that will appeal to buyers in the current housing market.

You can also check Prime Location’s historical sold price data.

This combination of research will mean that you will be in a much better position to decide a realistic asking price for your property.

Find a good estate agent to provide advice and help

A good estate agent will be able to help you secure a swift sale. Selling a property takes time, knowledge of the neighbourhood and negotiating skills.

Have a look on Prime Location’s Find an Agent section, which lists estate agents operating in your area.

When you are choosing an estate agent to sell your house, find out as much as you can about their experience, skills and fees:

• What fees do they charge?

• What is their commission rate?

• What type of contract do they offer? Sole agency, sole selling, joint agency or multiple agency?

• What price tag do they recommend for your property?

• Do they have experience in selling homes similar to yours? If so, what prices have they achieved?

• How and where will they market your property? Make sure they are showcasing your home as widely as possible by listing it on a property portal, such as Prime Location.

• How long will they advertise your house for?

• Will they carry out viewings of your property?

• Are they affiliated with reputable trade bodies, such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or National Association of Estate Agents?

Room by room hints

Kitchen

• Clear the surfaces in your kitchen, pack away appliances, equipment and other kitchenware, remove dirty dish clothes and sponges, rubbish, and remove evidence of problems, such as ants.

• Remove grime that has built up and aerate the room to remove cooking smells.

• Choose elegant pieces such as flowers, cookbooks, pretty bowls or small designer appliances to decorate your kitchen.

• Consider upgrading white goods. They could make your property sell faster – but bear in mind that you may not be able to recoup their full value.

Bathroom

• Tidy away toothbrushes, soaps, razors and medicines.

• Replace them with fresh soap, flowers, and designer bathroom items.

• Hang up clean, freshly laundered towels.

• Remove grime limescale that has built up and grout.

Bedrooms

• Pack away clothes and extra bed linen.

• Change the bed sheets.

Living areas

• Clear away books, newspapers, magazines, toys, DVDs.

• Pack other items that clutter, such as cushions and rugs on the floor.

Hallway

• Pay close attention to the front gate and door – potential buyers’ first impression is critical.

• Repaint your front door.

• Make sure front locks and handles work.

• Remove shoes, coats and jackets that take up space in the hallway.

• Make the view of the hallway appeal to draw buyers in.

Also consider:

• The view from each doorway.

• Making each room open to visitors.

• Packing away work out furniture and replacing with new pieces (you can consider rental furniture).

• Staging a trial walk-through. Perhaps a friend or family member can pose as a potential buyer?

Promote the neighbourhood

You could prepare a file on the local area for potential buyers – it may help them make a quicker decision to purchase your home. Points to consider highlighting include:

• Transport links

• Schools and public services

• Neighbours

• Amenities

• Entertainment and nightlife

• Parks and other recreation

• Restaurants and shopping

• Community and safety

Start the conveyancing early

It’s a good idea to start the conveyancing process promptly if you want to secure a quick sale. Conveyancing is the legal transfer of property from one person to another.

Instruct a solicitor early. They can start tackling some of the administration, including:

• Drafting up a contract

• Applying for title deeds

You will need to bring together paperwork too, such as planning consents and certificates for structural building work completed.

Accept the best offer

Once you have accepted the best offer on the table, the solicitor will push the conveyancing process forward. You need to negotiate with the buyer over what is included in the sale – for example, curtains and white goods.

At this stage, you are close to securing a sale. You do not want your potential buyer distracted by other opportunities. So keep in regular contact with your solicitor and estate agent to ensure the buyer is still committed to the deal.

You and the buyer will then sign the final contract and swap them, in a process known as exchanging contracts. At this point, the sale is recognised by law and you and the buyer will likely incur a penalty if one of you pulls out. You and your buyer are now formally committed to the deal and you both have the completion date confirmed.