Looking to sell your property? We’ve set out a brief guide to help with the process of selling your home.
1. Request a market appraisal of your property
Our goal is to sell your property at the highest achievable price in a time frame that suits you best. The easiest and quickest way to find out the value of your property is to arrange a free valuation with one of our friendly and expert sales team. Giving an accurate valuation is vital.
Our valuers hold years of experience in the field of residential and commercial sales. They’re trained not only to take in to consideration the essentials, such as the space and key features of your home, but to also note the finer details and immediate locality that make your property truly individual.
2. Choosing the right estate agent
When choosing an estate agent to market your home be sure to choose an agent that genuinely has your best interests at heart. Do they have a broad list of qualified applicants readily searching for properties like yours? Do they have a good understanding of the local area and do they have insight on local market trends and values? Furthermore, do they market all of their properties to a professional standard, with professional photography, strong property descriptions and property particulars? When it comes to valuations, remember; the highest price isn’t automatically the best price!
3. Instructing a solicitor
Instructing a solicitor to act on your behalf is an important part of the sales process. They’ll undertake the duty of completing legal work that is necessary during the process of selling your home. An experienced and proficient solicitor can be a main influence in determining the speed of which your sale progresses.
4. Presenting your property
Presentation goes a long way. The way your home is displayed on marketing platforms will have a direct impact on buyers’ first impressions, and may even be the foremost deciding factor in how much your property will achieve on the rental market. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression – that’s why professional photos of your home are imperative. Hawkes offer all homeowners a free consultation on home refurbishments prior to their property being placed on the market. Check out our brief guide for presenting your home here.
5. Marketing your property
The estate agency business is - essentially - the business of marketing. We understand that in order for a client’s asset to be successfully let or sold it must be publicized to as large an audience as possible; and that’s where we come in. We market to a nationwide audience on the UK’s leading and most-visited property portals.
Our office makes use of market-leading tools in order for your property to reach thousands of prospective qualified applicants registered with our Stoke Newington office. Superb printed property brochures, SMS send-outs, email campaigns, local magazine prints and our prominent high-street office are just a few of the methods and places your property will be publicised. To find out more about our marketing process click here.
6. Viewings
Our team will arrange viewings around you or your current tenants’ convenience. Our drive for results means our negotiators will be happy to attend evening and out-of-hours viewings to assure the right people view your home – maximising viewing opportunities for your property. Many of our landlords prefer to hand a set of keys over to us for ease of access.
A spotless property that is free of clutter will always give viewers a great first impression. Feedback – whether constructive or not – can always be used to your advantage. Click here to visit our guide on preparing your property for viewings.
7. Receiving an offer
As soon as an offer is received, we’ll be in touch to notify you both verbally and in writing. Should the offer be made subject any special conditions, these will also be made aware to you in writing. Your sales negotiator will be sure to check any buyer’s position in proceeding before your decision to accept an offer is made.
8. Agreeing an offer
When an offer is accepted we’ll proceed to draw up a memorandum of sale. This is to be issued to both parties – setting out the specifics of the agreed sale and also to declare both parties’ intent on committing and completing the transaction. The memorandum will also confirm the agreed sale price.
Your solicitor would then send a draft contract to the buyers’ solicitor, at which stage they will also begin to carry out searches and primary enquiries. An agreement should also soon be reached on determining when an exchange of contracts and completion will take place.
9. Exchange of contracts
The contracts are to be signed when both parties to the agreement are happy with the details included within. A few of the details that the contracts should include are:
- The agreed sale price
- Documents highlighting the boundaries of the property
- Whether there any fixtures, fittings or furnishing to be included within the sale price
- Any planning or legal restrictions held on the property
- Agreed date of completion
Upon the signing and exchange of contracts, both parties will be bound by legal obligations. The buyer will be legally obliged to sell the property to the buyer and buyer will be under legal obligation to proceed with purchasing the property. A deposit usually equivalent to 10% of the agreed purchase price will be paid by the buyer’s solicitor to your solicitor.
10. Completion
On the day of completion the remaining money (purchase price minus any deposits paid) will be transferred securely between buyer and seller through the solicitors. Your solicitor will call you to confirm once the money has cleared, whereby we’ll then be instructed to release keys to the buyers. Congratulations!