Sellers Guide

Guide to Selling

1. VALUATION

The first step is to obtain an accurate valuation of your home. One of our local professional estate agents will visit your home, at a time that suits you.

To conduct an assessment, our agents will take into account various factors concerning the condition of the property and include local market forces, selling activity and demand in the area.

After an inspection has been made, your agent will advise you on the most appropriate marketing strategy. The agent will also be able to make a realistic judgement on the best possible price you can expect to attract.

A valuation from us is a free, no obligation service, and will usually last between 30 to 60 minutes.

Contact Lifestyle Property to book your free valuation.

2. FIND AN AGENT

Choose a reputable local estate agent who has the skills to market your property and make the most of its potential. The agent will then arrange for photos of your property to be taken in order to maximise its attraction.

An agent will understand how to highlight the property’s selling points with a dedicated marketing campaign, keeping the property’s profitability in mind throughout.

Contact Lifestyle Property for more information

3. OBTAIN AN EPC

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a compulsory document which you need to have before advertising your property for sale. An EPC contains information on how energy efficient your home is, and what sort of impact it has on the environment. Your home is measured on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes, in band A, should have the lowest fuel bills. The energy band your property falls under is becoming increasingly important to potential buyers, not just for financial reasons, but also because of growing concern about environmental issues. The certificate also includes tips on how you can improve the energy efficiency of the property. Your agent can arrange an EPC on your behalf, if necessary

Ask Lifestyle Property for support in organising your government required Energy Performance Certificate.

4. MARKETING THE PROPERTY

Once on the market for sale, your home needs to be seen by as many people as possible by giving it maximum exposure across a variety of media channels.

At Lifestyle Property, we will arrange a wide spread of marketing material designed to capitalise on attracting as much viewing interest as possible. Your home will get significant exposure online on our website and be given full PR treatment; it will be featured in full colour local magazines and property guides and listed in specific property titles. We will also ensure email and SMS alerts reach potential buyers.

5. PREPARE FOR VIEWINGS

First impressions really do count, and it’s well worth doing some preparation in advance to maximise the opportunity to showcase your home. Start by attending to minor defects with some simple DIY, a lick of paint, moving furniture around and removing clutter to give the illusion of more space.

Presentation is critical in attracting interest from the moment potential buyers see the photographs online to achieving a successful sale; if they feel your home may suit their needs, they will want to view the property. This is your big chance for them to really get a feel for living in your home.

6. CONDUCTING VIEWINGS

However well you know your own property, it’s advisable to leave viewings to a professional estate agent to handle. An experienced agent who conducts viewings every day, with prior knowledge of what each particular buyer wants, will expertly handle any questions. He will also know the locality so important questions about schools, churches or transport connections can be swiftly answered.

Discuss the optimum times which suit your lifestyle for appointments to be made, taking into account traffic, parking restrictions, children, mealtimes and seasonal light levels. Bear in mind that weekends and evenings will be the most popular viewing times.

7. NEGOTIATING AND AGREEING AN OFFER

As soon as an offer is received we will notify you verbally, followed by a written offer within 24 hours. If you choose to reject the offer, the purchaser may decide to increase their offer; either way, your estate agent will talk you through the next steps to take.

Lifestyle Property will also make sure the buyer has the ability to proceed before you decide whether to accept the offer.

Throughout the process of negotiation or agreement of an offer, we will be on hand to help the transaction run smoothly with as little disruption to your life as possible.

8. LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Once you have agreed an offer and both parties are ready to proceed, you will need to instruct your solicitor or conveyancer; he or she will represent you in the sale process and act for you in handling all necessary legal communications, including sending out a draft contract to the buyer’s solicitor.

We will maintain regular contact with the legal parties acting on behalf of both you and your buyer; in so doing, we can keep ahead of progress and ensure everything runs according to time schedules.

If all is in order, you will be able to agree on suitable dates for the survey on your property, exchange of contracts and a proposed date for completion.

9. EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS

To complete the sale of your house, a contract will be drawn up by each of the legal representatives and signed by both parties. Local search queries will also be made. This process can vary in timescale, depending on individual circumstances. A few tips to help speed up the process:

Make contact with a legal representative before finding a buyer as several things can be completed well in advance
One of these is contacting your title deeds office and obtaining various necessary documents
Have ready the Fixtures, Fittings and Contents form, together with the Sellers Property Information form.

When the contract has been signed, payment of the deposit and a mutually agreed completion date will be confirmed; the legal title will also be transferred to your buyer.

10. COMPLETION

Completion occurs when the remaining balance, usually the purchase price minus the deposit, has been transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor.

When the money has cleared in your account, your solicitor will notify you, and subsequently contact us with instructions to release the keys.

The keys are then handed to your buyer and the sale is complete.

If you have any questions or would like to clarify any of these points, please contact Lifestyle Property.

Contemplating a move?

If you're contemplating a move, the best starting point is to get an idea of the market value. We are always happy to visit, at a time to suit and give you our professional opinion on price.

There is no charge or obligation whatsoever, and any discussions we have are in complete confidence.

Value my home

Client Testimonials

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