Checklist for house sellers

1. ARRANGE PROPERTY VALUATION / HOME REPORT – Our valuation is an entirely free service and the process will probably take our Property Manager an hour. We can advise on the best price for your property, photography, and advertising requirement. We are also able to advise on all aspects of Home Reports which you will, in all likelihood, require for the sale of your property. We are also happy to discuss the costs of this and contact surveyors on your behalf to arrange the Home Report.

2. ESTABLISH THE ESTATE AGENCY & CONVEYANCING EXPENSES FOR YOUR MOVE – This will give you a fairly full estimate of the likely expenses of selling, although press advertising is a variable.

3. APPOINT YOUR ESTATE AGENT – and ask them to put your house on the market. We have a fairly standard Marketing Agreement that we ask house sellers to complete.

4. PREPARATION OF PARTICULARS OF SALE – We send draft particulars of sale of the house and because of the Property Misdescriptions Act these need to be checked carefully and amended as appropriate to make sure they correctly describe the property.

5. VIEWING – Have the house ready in every respect for viewings. Ensure the property shows its best features and is in good order generally.

6. NOTES OF INTEREST – Should a buyer note interest in the property your solicitor will advise you.

7. CLOSING DATE? – If there are several buyers chasing the property then you may wish to discuss with your solicitor/estate agent the possibility of arranging a closing date. This means that all offers are submitted on the same date and generally the highest wins.

8. OFFERS – Discuss with your solicitor or estate agent any offer or offers received which will cover price, entry date and any extras included.

9. CONCLUSION OF THE MISSIVES – Remember that the sale is not safe until the contract is concluded in writing, that is to say every condition is agreed between purchaser and seller.

10. ORGANISE YOUR REMOVAL – Again at a fairly early stage organise your removal company if you intend to use one.

11. CHANGE OF ADDRESS – Remember to contact all your friends and relatives with your change of address, and in addition the utility companies. Arrange for meters to be read.

12. CONVEYANCING PROCEDURES – Your solicitor will advise you of the timetable here, and arrange for completion and signature of the sale documentation, all prior to the date of entry.

13. COMPLETION – The purchaser’s solicitor pays the purchase price to your solicitor, and your solicitor will pay off any mortgage and then the balance of the proceeds will be paid to you.