Is your new year’s resolution to finally get your house on the market? Maybe you are planning to take your next steps on the property ladder to a bigger house or perhaps you have decided on a fresh start in a totally different area! Whatever the reason it makes sense to plan in advance to ensure that your sale goes as smoothly as possible and that you get the price that you want for your home. With over 30 years of experience in selling houses Wrights are experts in helping vendors through the sales process and we’ve put together some advice for potential vendors to consider before they put their home on the market…
Get your house valued and choose an estate agent that you can trust
Before you make any plans to sell it’s important to know just how much your property is worth as this will impact on any decisions that you may be making about the next property you want to buy. You will also want to decide on which Estate Agent you are going to put your house on the market with. You’ll need to find someone that you can trust, who you have a good rapport with and who has a great reputation. We always recommend going with a local agency such as Wrights as they will have an in-depth knowledge of your area and of what the property market is like. At Wrights we always offer potential vendors a realistic valuation and appraisal of how fast we think your property will sell.
Make your home more ‘saleable’
When we come round to give you a valuation we can also advise you on any cosmetic changes that you could make to your property in order to help you achieve a quick sale. Whilst we wouldn’t recommend spending too much money it’s amazing the difference that a lick of paint, a declutter and a tidy up of the garden can make to the way that potential buyers view your property. If you know that something in your home needs fixing or if there are any minor alterations that could make a difference to buyers it is always worth doing them and, if you need help finding reliable tradespeople, we can always put you in touch one of our recommended suppliers.
Plan your moving strategy and decide what type of buyers you are looking for
Moving house can be a stressful time if you already have a property as you will usually become part of a chain of vendors and buyers. We will always do everything we can do make sure that your chain works as smoothly as possible but it is always worth having a contingency plan in place so that you don’t risk losing your buyers. Have a think about how quickly you would be able to move out of your property if you got buyers who wanted a quick sale. Would you consider renting or getting a bridging loan if this situation occurred? It can also be worthwhile thinking about what type of buyers you are looking for. Are you keen to have a quick sale with buyers who are chain free or can you be flexible? Make sure you share your views with your estate agent so that they can advise you about suitable buyers who they may have on their books.
Get a good solicitor
A good solicitor will be able to help you manage your sale and deal with any issues that arise quickly and efficiently. They are an essential part of the selling process and we always recommend using a solicitor based locally as they will have a good knowledge of the area and be aware of any potential issues that may arise. As you can see there’s a lot to think about when you put your house on the market and getting prepared can make life much easier for you.
If you would like a free valuation and advice about selling your home please get in touch with your local Wrights branch and we will be happy to talk you through the sales process.
