Your Complete Guide to Selling Your Home
Selling your home can feel like a lot to take in. There are valuations, solicitors, viewings, offers and a whole lot of waiting in between. But with the right agent behind you, it does not have to be stressful. This guide walks you through the whole process, so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.
If you have any questions along the way, our team in Stanley and Consett is always happy to chat.
How Selling Your Home Works
Step 1: Get a valuation
The first step is finding out what your home is worth. We offer free, no-obligation valuations carried out by our local team. We will visit your property, assess its condition and location, and give you an honest and accurate picture of its market value. We will also talk you through our approach and answer any questions you have.
Step 2: Instruct your agent
Once you are happy with your valuation and our approach, you instruct us to sell your property. We will send you a sales agency agreement to sign, which sets out the terms of our service.
Step 3: Prepare your home
First impressions count. Before we list your property, we will give you practical advice on how to present it at its best. That might be as simple as a tidy and a fresh coat of paint, or it might involve a bit more. Either way, we will be honest with you about what could make a difference to the price you achieve.
Step 4: Professional photography and marketing
Our Sales Manager Anna handles property photography in-house. We create a listing that shows your home at its very best, with professional photos and a compelling description. Your property will be listed on Rightmove and the other major portals, giving it maximum exposure to the right buyers.
Step 5: Viewings
We accompany all viewings and give buyers a proper, unhurried look around your home. After each viewing we will feed back to you with the buyer’s thoughts. We take viewings seriously, because the impression your home makes during a viewing can make or break a sale.
Step 6: Receiving and negotiating offers
When an offer comes in, we will present it to you promptly and give you our honest assessment of it. If the offer is not right, we will negotiate on your behalf. Our job is to get you the best possible result, not just to secure any offer.
Step 7: Sale agreed
Once you accept an offer, we mark the property as sale agreed and begin the legal process. You will need to instruct a solicitor or conveyancer at this stage to handle the legal transfer of ownership. We can recommend someone if you do not already have one.
Step 8: Conveyancing and exchange
Your solicitor will carry out searches, review the contract and deal with any queries from the buyer’s solicitor. This stage can take time, but we will stay in close contact with all parties to keep things moving. Once everything is in order, contracts are exchanged and the sale becomes legally binding.
Step 9: Completion
Completion day is when the money changes hands and ownership transfers to the buyer. We will hand over the keys and be on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly. Time to start the next chapter.
Note: Further useful information can be found on our Sales and Mortgage Advice pages.
Making the Most of Your Sale
- Get your valuation right. Overpricing a property puts buyers off and leads to longer time on the market. We will price it accurately from the start.
- Present your home well. Clear the clutter, let in as much light as possible and make sure everything is clean and tidy before photos and viewings.
- Be flexible on viewings. The more people who see your home, the better your chances of the right offer. Try to accommodate viewings when buyers are available.
- Get your paperwork in order early. Having your EPC, title deeds and any relevant certificates ready will speed up the legal process once a sale is agreed.
- Choose the right time. The spring and autumn markets tend to be busiest, but a well-priced property will sell in any market. We will advise you on timing.
Documents and Requirements
When selling a property in England and Wales, you will need the following:
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): required before marketing your property. If you do not have one, we can arrange it for you.
- Title deeds and proof of ownership (your solicitor will handle this).
- Details of any work carried out on the property, including planning permissions and building regulations certificates.
- Information about service charges or ground rent if the property is leasehold.
- Anti-money laundering checks: we are required by law to verify your identity as part of the sale process.