Selling up and moving on
Preparing your home for sale
Obviously you'll want to sell your home for the best price as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to prepare your home for the sale. Try to imagine what a prospective buyer would think of your home, your garden, your garage?
Think about what you noticed when you brought your home, remember the first glimpse that any prospective buyer will have is usually from the roadside in front of your property.
At some point you'll be asked to provide details about your property. This will include the findings of standard searches, evidence of your title and any warranties/guarantees. You should start compiling this now to save time and money later on.
Our top ten tips
Why not take a bit of time to do some jobs on and around your property? Add a lick of paint here and there, fix the guttering, and prune those hedges... little details like these will help make your home look more tidy and desirable.
1. Finish off those jobs
Have you been threatening to mend that cupboard or fix that towel rail? Well it's time to get to work. You don't want prospective buyers becoming distracted by these small problems.
2. A lick of paint
When was your home last decorated? Are there any marks on the walls? Many homes could benefit from a lick of paint here and there to make the rooms look brighter and generally more attractive. You'll find that plain colours will help to give the illusion of a larger room.
3. Clean
A clean, uncluttered home will be attractive to potential buyers. Make sure you clean throughout the property from top to bottom.
4. Tidy
For some households it'll be time to get rid of all the junk you've built up over the years. Try and keep all rooms as clean as possible, that way viewers will be able to see the potential of the rooms more clearly.
5. Lighting
Don't leave your viewers in the dark. Change that faulty light bulb and make sure all dark areas are well lit. That way your property will seem much larger. Think about the way your furniture is laid out, sometimes you can create the illusion of a much larger room by simply moving your furniture around.
6. Kitchen
Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure all the surfaces are cleared of any clutter. Make sure all your appliances are clean - your prospective buyers will be trying to imagine what it would be like to cook in your kitchen. Some kitchen units can benefit from a quick paint job and new handles to make them look like brand new.
7. Bathroom
Make sure you go to work on the bathroom. Keep it aired and clean and make sure any mould is removed. Maybe it could benefit from a lick of paint or a bit of fresh grouting?
8. View from the street
Remember, the first time a potential buyer will view your property is usually from the roadside. There's no point in doing all the work on the inside of your home if the outside turns off buyers. So fix that fence, paint that front door, and clean those windows.
9. Green fingers
Is your garden overgrown? Or full of weeds? Then get out there! A cared for, colourful garden can make your property a much more attractive proposition. Get the lawnmower out and plant some flowers to give your garden a quick makeover.
10. Pets
You love your pets, but that doesn't mean everyone else will. When you start showing people your home, arrange to keep the pets out of the way, maybe at the home of a friend or relative. That way buyers won't be distracted by them, and your pets won't bring smells, hairs and dirty paw prints into your freshly spring cleaned home.
Advertising your home
Once you've prepared you home for sale the next step is advertise it for sale. The most common way is via a local estate agent; they will value your property and agree the 'for sale' price with you advertise your property locally and nationally via their shops, local newspapers and the internet arrange and manage viewings with potential buyers negotiate with buyers on your behalf act a key link with the buyers and their solicitors through the sale process.
Always obtain quotes from several estate agents before deciding who to use; fees and service and the valuation of your home do differ. Also seek recommendations from friends, family and work colleagues.
When agreeing the price remember a property that's priced to high could put buyers off and lengthen the processor if priced too low you could sell quickly but not receive as much as may be possible.
Home Information Pack
The Home Information Pack (also known as the HIP) is compulsory for most homes on the market in England and Wales.
Why do you need a HIP?
A HIP is a set of documents that provides the buyer with key information on the property and must be provided by the seller or the seller's agent. It is a legal requirement to have a HIP and you can't market your property without one.
The HIP lets buyers see important information about the property at the start of the process, free of charge. This means there is less chance of buyers becoming aware of any surprises at the end of the process. The HIP can help reduce delays and extra expense to the buyer and seller.
Who pays for the HIP?
You will be responsible as the seller to pay for these services. If you are selling your property you will need to either compile the report yourself or you can hire an estate agent, solicitor or HIP provider to do it for you.
