If you are thinking about selling your property then you may already have heard what a minefield it can be. When you bought your first home, you may have planned to sell it so have already prepared yourself for the stress. Moving can be one of the most stressful events in an adult’s life. Find out how you can go about selling your home as smoothly as possible in the article below.
Why Are You Selling?
First of all, is there a reason you need to sell your home and move elsewhere? Maybe you have been offered a new job and need to relocate to make life a little easier for yourself. It might be that there are no decent schools around where you currently live and your children are swiftly heading towards school age. Whatever the reason, you will likely be asked by potential buyers who come and look around your home. Just make sure you aren’t putting anyone off with your answer to this question.
Find An Estate Agent
Next, decide if you are selling your home privately or through an estate agent. There are of course pros and cons to both of these options, it all comes down to personal preference. If you want to sell privately then you are in charge of everything and it can be a lot of work. Especially if you are trying to sell while holding down a job and looking after children.
Using an estate agent will cost a little bit of money but it will be totally worth it when you don’t have to deal with the stress and the legwork. Now you need to find a reputable estate agent to use, there will be a few around. Check out which houses have sold in your local area and who is managing these sales. That will give you a rough idea of who people are using to sell their homes.
Declutter Your Home
Once you know for sure that you are going to sell your home, you need to spend some time decluttering. Nobody wants to look around a cluttered home, as it comes across that you haven’t cared for the house while living there. This brings with it a whole host of issues, including unseen ones.
You might dread this task but if you look at it as one room at a time then it won’t be so daunting. In each room you should create four piles, these will consist of items you want to keep, throw away, donate, and sell. It is always nice to donate items to those who may be less fortunate than yourselves.
Hire A Cleaner
Now your home has been decluttered it is time to carry out a thorough deep clean. Your property might never have been deep cleaned since living there so it is a good idea to get one booked in. This should be done before photographs and content is taken of your home, you want it to look its best in photos as this is what will sell.
If you don’t have the time or the energy to do this job yourself then you could always hire a cleaner to come and do it for you. There are hundreds of cleaners out there so make sure you choose the right one. Perhaps your friends and family have used someone or a company previously, ask around for recommendations. Alternatively, check out domestic cleaners around your area. They will come with reviews and references from existing clients.
Take Photos
Once your home is clean and looking good as new it is time to do some staging before photographs are taken. Not everyone wants to do this, and sometimes it is impossible due to having children or pets. However, homes that have been staged to look like show homes sell much better than those that haven’t. If you have no idea where to start with this or even if it is something you want to do then it might be worth speaking to your estate agent about it. They will be able to give you the best tips and advice on selling your property.
They might also be able to provide a photographer to take the photos needed of your property. Gone are the days of estate agents doing this themselves, now they will outsource or use an on-site photographer. Consult with them a convenient time to come around and then your property will be up online in no time at all.
Speak With Solicitors
There is one professional who will always be involved with a house move, whether you are selling or buying. You might already have a solicitor to hand that dealt with your previous house move. They can also deal with selling, you won’t need to find a new one just for that. The reason solicitors are involved is so the deeds and paperwork are all transferred to new ownerships when house moves go ahead.
Make sure they are a property solicitor otherwise you may not have the right legal paperwork in place, that can lead to issues further down the line. If your existing solicitor doesn’t practice anymore then you will need to find a new one. The good news is, your estate agent may be able to recommend one that their clients use. Even though they come recommended, it is still wise to check out their website and reviews.
Find Your Next Home
Where are you moving to once your property has sold? You may be interested in buying another home and you will ideally need to find this while your current property is on the market. When you are a homeowner, you will enter into a chain if you decide to sell your home. Chains can be held up for numerous reasons including dates not lining up for moving out and moving in.
Try and find your next home before your current one sells, that way you won’t be panicking at the last minute that you have nowhere to go.
We do hope you found this article helpful and now have slightly more knowledge about what you need to do in order to sell your home. There will be hurdles along the way, but with the right help and support you will make it through.