I Want to Sell My House – Where Do I Start?

1. Establish a Realistic Timescale

Before you decide on a sales method, start boxing up your valuables or settle on a price, it’s best to think about the timescale since this can influence every other decision you need to make. For example:

• Is selling as quickly as possible a top priority?
• Are you happy to wait a little longer to achieve a great price?
• Will your next project or move fall through if you don’t sell by a certain date?
• How much time do you need to pack and move?
• Are you planning on any repairs before selling your home?

There are no right or wrong answers, but if you need to proceed quickly, such as when selling a property to take up a further investment opportunity, this may dictate the right way forward.

Sellers keen to achieve a prompt sale commonly opt for an auction since there is far greater certainty of achieving a sale within just a few weeks – but equally, if you need a little time to get your affairs in order and finalise details of a subsequent move you should build this into your planning, with the option to delay the completion date being extended from the normal 20 days.

Are you looking for a quick sale? Did you know that you can sell your house within 20 days with an auction? Find out how much your house will sell for at auction here: you’ll be surprised

2. Get clear on your next property

Are you selling to fund your next property purchase or will you be moving in with relatives? Think ahead to where you’ll be living or moving to and whether you need to start seeking a new property to purchase or rent.

3. Talk to an Agent or Auctioneer

Next, we’d recommend finding a local auctioneer or estate agent who will be happy to have a chat about your options. Local property professionals know the market inside out and understand what sells well and what buyers are looking for.

They can often help with guidance about setting a listing, guide or reserve price, share tips about whether it is worth spending money on minor repairs and whether this will make any difference to your sale price, or walk you through the next steps so you can verify that the average sale time is consistent with your timeframes.

4. Think About Presentation

For most homeowners, the task of boxing up all their belongings, moving appliances and working through potentially large volumes of possessions stored in attics, sheds and garages can seem a lot to take on – so thinking about these practicalities early on will help.

A clean, uncluttered property will often look more appealing in photos, and many sales professionals will recommend shifting any unnecessary items, however always ask your agent for their recommendations.

However, if you’re looking to sell by auction, you can sell a property that is in need of refurbishment or cluttered without having to clear or refurbish it especially if it is a probate or previously tenanted property. 

5. Get Your Paperwork in Order

Whether you sell through a local agent or via a property auction, any prospective buyer will need to review the documentation and particulars. For an agency sale, you may be asked to provide your agent with copies. For an auction transaction, your auctioneer will upload documents from your solicitor to form a legal pack for prospective bidders to review in advance.

A conveyancer or solicitor will normally need to assist in compiling searches, energy efficiency certifications, planning permission documents and title deeds. Try to work through your paperwork in advance of marketing as this will prevent any last-minute stress and give your solicitor plenty of time to obtain the necessary searches.

Read more about the documents required to sell your property here.

6. Decide How to Sell

At this stage, you have spoken with a local property expert to get an idea about how much you might be able to sell for, have created a clear timescale for yourself, and have all your legal documents ready and waiting.

Now is a good time to make any final decisions about how to sell your home. We’ve mentioned selling through an estate agent or listing your property at auction. Still, you could potentially opt for a Sale by Tender.

If you’d like to learn more about alternative routes and the pros and cons, please get in touch with the Clive Emson Auctioneer team at any time.

Should you be undecided, it could be worth drawing up a list of pros and cons to clarify which routes are better suited to your objectives.

Those pros and cons would consider timings, the likelihood of finalising a sale within your ideal deadline, and other aspects, such as the support available from your agent or auctioneer and how much work you would need to contribute to the marketing and viewing process.

7. Organise Photography or Videos

After you’ve made a decision about how you’d like to move ahead, it’s time to get your property listed! Regardless of the sale process you’ve opted for, that will mean having some high-quality photographs of the property’s interior and exterior, with many agents and auctioneers preferring to record a detailed video walk-through to provide full clarity for interested buyers.

While you’ll rarely be expected to handle any of these tasks directly, your property representative may need to ask for a convenient time for their photographer to visit and may also require input to help with drafting the property particulars and attending to take detailed measurements of the floor space.

Once all of these details are taken care of, it’s time for you to sit back, leave your property transaction in the hands of your preferred agent or auctioneer, and consider your onward plans once your property sale is complete.

If you’d like to discuss any aspects of selling a home, selecting a price, or knowing how to get started, you are welcome to contact us at your convenience for an informal discussion.

8. Instruct a conveyancing solicitor

Whether you’ve opted for a private treaty or auction sale, you’ll need a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal obligations ahead of the sale. Property sellers should instruct either a solicitor or a conveyancer to help with the legal pack preparation. You can find out more about using a solicitor to sell your home here.

9. Continue the sale process

We’ve listed how to get started with a house sale – however, at this point, the process varies depending on which route to market you’ve taken. For a private treaty sale, the next step is for the estate agent to organise house viewings and visits. If you’ve opted for an auction sale, the viewings are likely to be scheduled..

If you’re interested in reading about the full auction process from start to finish, read our article here: How does a property auction work? 

Did you know that you can sell your house within 20 days with an auction? Find out how much your house will sell for at auction here.