Whether this is the first time you’re selling your home or you are a seasoned seller, each house sale has its differences. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a common process to selling your home; there is.

There’s many reasons for selling a property. For example, you’ve outgrown your first home and need more space, you are changing location maybe because of a new job, the property is a probate sale or you are downsizing. At Surrey Abodes, we completely understand that it can be a daunting, and often challenging time. So, we’ve put together our ‘what you need to know’ guide to help you. 

Step-by-step guide to selling your home

Once you’ve decided to sell, there are a series of steps we would recommend to help you progress through to a successful sale. 

Kerb appeal matters

Before you instruct an agent to sell your home, it’s worth taking a bit of time to make sure your home is in its best possible condition to attract buyers. Kerb appeal is an important factor to selling your home, so: 

• Clean windows inside and out.
• Make sure the front door and driveway are clean and clear of obstacles.
• Keep the lawns mown and patios clean.
• Tidy up and maintain any fences, gates and walls.
• Paint walls inside and out, if needed, but keep the colours fairly neutral.
• Spend some time decluttering, cleaning and tidying inside. Try to ensure as much floor space as possible can be seen in each room to create a sense of space. 

Sort your paperwork

If you have a mortgage, contact them and find out if any early repayment charges are applicable (when you move house, your previous mortgage will be paid and a new mortgage commences). Most standard rate mortgages don’t have penalty fees while some mortgages maybe portable – you have the option to move your mortgage without paying fees.

Make sure you know where your property’s title deeds are kept, i.e. with your solicitor or bank. If you’ve had any work done to your home, such as new kitchens or bathrooms, heating systems or extensions, make sure you have the relevant paperwork ready to refer to if asked by a potential buyer, or solicitors/conveyancers during the sales process. 

Mortgage advice and affordability

It’s a good idea to know how much you can afford to borrow and the mortgage rates on offer. Getting a mortgage offer in principle puts you in a good buyer position, if purchasing another home. Make sure you get advice not only from your current mortgage provider but also from other financial sources as a comparison. We offer expert mortgage advice for first time buyers, transitioning home buyers, buy to let investors and remortgages.

There are certain costs associated with selling a home, including: 

• Getting an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) completed. Every property must have an EPC carried out for you or an agent to market and sell it.
• Agency fees.
• Conveyancing fees. As well as the legal fees, there will be charges for requesting the title deeds from HM Land Registry (if applicable), money laundering checks and the transfer of funds from your mortgage provider to your bank/solicitor.
• Surveys. Whether you opt for just the mortgage provider’s survey or you instruct an independent surveyor (they will carry out a more comprehensive survey), there will be a fee.
• Removal costs.

If you have a leasehold property, check how many years are remaining. If less than 80 years, it could impact its value significantly. So, you may want to get the lease extended before selling the property, which incurs an additional cost. 

How much is your home worth?

When you’re ready, it’s time to get your home valued. Most people will have done an online search to get an idea how much similar houses in the area are priced. However, it’s always a good idea to call in a professional estate agent to carry out a valuation of your home. They will be able to advise on the current market value and answer any questions you may have. 

Choosing your agent

Once you’ve had valuations on your home, it’s time to decide on which agent you will instruct to sell your home. Remember, it’s not always about the highest price or lowest fees. What’s also important is the relationship you have with your agent, the personalised professional service they are providing, their knowledge of the local area and their experience of the property market.

Instructing an agent

When you’ve chosen an agent, they will arrange for photographs and a floorplan of your home are carried out. They will then organise a brochure to be compiled and add the property to their website as well as online property portals, such as Rightmove and Zoopla.

Take this opportunity to decide on whether you want your agent to conduct all viewings, which is common for most sales, or you are happy to do them. We would recommend allowing the agent access as they will be neutral and it relieves a level of stress for you. At the same time, make sure you notify your agent of the days and times you cannot open the house to viewings, i.e. if you work from home at any time.

Also, it’s good practice to find and instruct a solicitor or property conveyancer to manage the sale’s legal process once you have accepted an offer from a buyer. The sooner you bring them on board, the earlier they can start the paperwork, including drafting the contract.

How long it takes to sell your home depends on several factors but your agent will keep you up-to-date with feedback from viewers, as well as the sales process through to completion. 

Accepting an offer

At Surrey Abodes, we are obliged to put forward all offers on your property, even if they are very low. That said, you can instruct your agent to automatically reject any offers below a certain amount but you will still be notified. Your agent will work on your behalf to obtain the best possible offer on your home. Remember, it’s not always the highest offer that presents you with the ideal buyer.

Consider the buyer’s selling position, i.e. if they have a property to sell and if it’s already under offer, if their mortgage is agreed in principle, if required, the length of the chain and how quickly they could process through to exchange of contracts and completion. All of this impacts the purchase of your next home. Additional details may be included in the agreed offer, such as fixtures and fittings. 

The sales process

Once an offer has been agreed, your agent will issue a Memorandum of Sale that confirms both your and your buyer’s details. Your solicitors/conveyancers will also receive this information and can progress the sales process. Get in touch with them to discuss time frames, pay any fees for searches, money laundering requirements, bank transfers and sometimes a downpayment for the solicitor’s time.

Your agent will regularly contact all parties of the sales chain to make sure it progresses successfully. You will also need to call your solicitor to agree exchange and completion dates.

At this point, you should be contacting removal companies and getting quotes from them for moving your possessions to your new home. They will also be able to offer a packaging service, which could save you a lot of time and hassle 

Exchange and completion

When you’ve exchanged contracts, arrange to make the final payments on your household bills, like electricity, gas, council tax and water. Also find out who are the providers for your new home and notify the local council that you are moving. It’s a good idea to set up a redirected mail service with the Post Office (there is a cost for this) so that you don’t miss any mail.

Don’t forget to drop off your sold property’s keys to your agent for the new owners to collect, once your solicitors have made the payment for the property on completion day. You will be notified when this has been done and you can collect the keys for your new home.

We hope this guide helps you better understand what’s involved in selling your home. At Surrey Abodes, our professional, knowledgeable and experienced team are always available to sell your home on your behalf. Whether it’s booking a valuation, instructing us or you need advice, get in touch with us at any time.