When you finally decide to take the plunge and put your home up for sale, you want to be sure you are fully prepared. A bit of time spent on preparation will help you maximize the price achieved for your property and sell it more quickly, as well as make things run more smoothly.
1. Consider where you want to move to
If you are selling your home in order to buy somewhere else, it is important to know that this is viable. Researching areas you like, availability, and pricing within these areas can save disappointment later. After all, the place you are moving to is just as important as where you live now.
2. Check your current mortgage
As well as checking your current mortgage deal for any early repayment charges, it is also worth speaking to an independent mortgage advisor to check your affordability before you go on the market. You will quickly get an idea of what your budget will be for your next home.
3. Declutter your home
Making your home look its absolute best is obviously important for interested buyers, but it’s good to complete this before you invite Estate Agents around to value your home. You also want them to have the best first impressions of your home, and be excited about helping you find a buyer.
4. Redecorate and deep clean
A fresh coat of paint can add thousands to the price you achieve and will make your home stand out. Deep cleaning everything from cupboards, to windows and kitchen appliances, will also help give you the best chance of selling.
5. Prepare any outside areas
Gardens, balconies, and terraces are some of the biggest selling features of any property, and must also be decluttered and presented well to maximize interest.
6. Research the potential value of your home
A bit of research now can pay dividends when you have agents over to provide you with a valuation, as an accurate valuation is a good sign that the agent knows what they are doing. Take a look at the property portals to see what your competition is like, and at sold prices to see what values have been achieved in the past
7. Research which agents to invite to value your home
The best agent is likely to be someone who has knowledge and experience of the local area, is trustworthy, and will put your interests over their own. Recommendations, previous experience, and seeing who has sold the most similar properties recently are some of the ways you can narrow down the list.
8. Invite agents over to provide you with a valuation
It is important to get the opinion of a range of Estate Agents, that way you can be more confident that you are going on the market at the correct price. It is also a good opportunity to see what different agents offer and to find someone you feel comfortable with. A minimum of three is recommended, although up to five is probably the optimum number.
9. Decide if selling is definitely right for you
You should now know how much you can get for your home, where you want to move to and how much you have to spend. If it looks like you may not be able to move to your ideal home, then you still have options. You could stay put for the time being, or perhaps decide to keep hold of your property and upsize to a rental property in your preferred area. This has the advantage of trying out a new area before committing to a purchase.
10. Start marketing
Once you have chosen your preferred agent and agreed on terms, the next stage is for your agent to arrange photography and start marketing. Always ensure your property looks at its absolute best for the photoshoot, as these images will be most clients’ introduction to your home. You should receive feedback from your agent on each viewing, and a weekly update on the activity.
Good luck! If you need any assistance at any stage of the process then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
