Thinking of Selling?

Selling your property is one of the most financially and personally significant challenges you will face, therefore we have developed an approach that gives you a professional, carefully planned, stress free, and ultimately a profitable experience. We employ experienced, highly motivated staff with excellent local knowledge who will provide feedback on all viewings. To discuss your house sale or arrange for a free property valuation please contact us here

Thinking of Buying?

The first step to finding the property that is right for you is for us to establish your wants and needs. We will only take you to see properties that meet your requirements, and will welcome your feedback on the ones you view. Once you have found the perfect home we will advise you of the next steps, and keep you informed all the way through to completion - when the property will be legally yours!

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To discuss your house sale or arrange for a free property valuation please contact us here or complete the online Free No Obligation Valuation Form here

Selling Your Property

We're often get asked the question “should I find a new home first before I put my property on the market?“

A successful sale can only happen if the purchaser is in a position to buy. There is no question that you will be in a better position as a buyer if you have already either placed your property on the market, or have accepted an offer. A vendor is unlikely to accept an offer from a purchaser if they have a property to sell which is not already on the market. Also, bear in mind that if you find your new home first before putting your current home on the market this places additional pressure on you to sell your property quickly, which could lead to rash decisions.

“What if I sell my property first and then can't find somewhere to buy?”
That's where we come in; we take into account your situation and the current economic climate. The selling process can seem complex, but we'll use all our experience to make sure it runs smoothly. Here's our quick guide to the main steps:

•  Appoint an agent
•  Spruce up your home
•  Agree the sale
•  Up to exchange of contracts
•  Complete the sale

Step 1 - Appoint an Agent

The first step in selling your property is to appoint an estate agent, who'll value your home and show it to potential buyers. We'll help with every stage of your sale , from valuation to marketing and conveyancing.

Step 2 - Spruce up your home

We get so used to the places we live in that it's sometimes hard to see them through others' eyes. But if you want a successful, quick sale , that's exactly what you have to do and first impressions count for a lot.

A few hours spent making your property look its best or even spending a bit of money to clear up some niggling problems could add to the price you get from a buyer. Here's a few tips to get you started.

Making your home more saleable:

•  Think like a buyer – don't overlook flaws just because you don't mind them or you're used to them
•  Reduce clutter – get rid of everything but the bare essentials
•  Decorate neutrally – buyers need to be able to see it as their own home
•  Keep it light – clean the windows and use light colours
•  Outside and in – buyers will often walk or drive past first, and fresh paintwork and well cared for outside spaces make a great first impression
•  You're ready for your estate agent to start showing buyers round.

Step 3 - Agree the sale

As your estate agent we will start to generate offers from interested buyers . We will present each offer to you and negotiate on your behalf to get the best result.

Here's what information we will discuss with you:

•  Price – how much are the buyers offering to pay?
•  Are they in a chain? If a buyer is still trying to find someone to purchase their home, you will be dependent on their successful sale. It can be quicker to sell to first time buyers, investors, or people who have already sold their previous place.
•  Your position – are the buyers able to move in time to suit your plans and timescale?
•  Should you accept? Ultimately the decision is yours, but we'll provide all the help and advice we can to help you make the right decision.

Once you've accepted an offer we'll pass on the good news to your buyer and start drawing up the paperwork.

Step 4- Up to exchange of contracts

Your buyer will provide us with their solicitor's details, which we will pass on to your solicitor, so they can get on with drawing up the contracts.

The next stage is where the buyer and their mortgage lender carry out any valuations and surveys on the building and check that everything is as it should be with the paperwork. It's quite normal for a few queries to be raised, so this stage can take a little while.

When this stage is complete, you're ready to exchange contracts and set a completion date, when the money gets transferred, and the property legally changes hands, the conveyancing process will be complete.

Completion is normally two weeks later, but can be earlier. It might even be possible to exchange and complete on the same day if you need to. Leaving a gap gives you time to make arrangements for moving out and tie up any loose ends.

After you've formally exchanged contracts, you're legally obliged to sell the property to your chosen buyer and they're obliged to buy it from you.

You should plan to move out before your completion date.  As soon as you have completed the sale the property belongs to your buyer and they can move in immediately.

Step 5- Complete the sale

Completing the sale is usually as simple as getting a phone call from your solicitor telling you that everything has gone smoothly.

This means both parties' mortgages have been paid off and new arrangements put in place, the conveyancers have successfully arranged the legal transfer, and the property officially belongs to your buyer.

Selling your property is now complete – Congratulations!

Valuing Your Property

This part of our service is free, and is provided without obligation.

Valuing a property is not an exact science. There is no formula to follow. However at SPM it is not just an opinion plucked out of the sky. We base our valuation on a number of criteria to place your property at the head of the market. Some of the factors we look at are: new kitchen, bathroom, extension etc.

Something to remember - The true value of your property is what someone is willing to pay for it. Although it is the purchaser who ultimately decides the selling price of the property, it is the vendor, with the help of an honest agent who determines a competitive asking price.

A competitively priced property puts your property at the top of the market, which means more enquiries = more viewings = more offers on your property.

Click here to request a free valuation

Expert Buyers Advice:

 

How do I start?

Contact SPM, who will put you in touch with the most suitable agent for the area you are looking at. They will want to meet you and get to know all about you, so invest some time and think about the following:

•  Which areas would you consider buying in?
•  Are there other areas you would consider but don't know well?
•  What kind of property are you looking for?
•  What are the "must-haves" and "don't wants"?
•  How much are you prepared to spend to get what you want?
•  When do you want to have moved by?
•  Do you need to sell and if so, is your property on the market yet?
•  Do you know how much you can borrow and if so; is your finance organised?

I want to see some property...

Once your agent has a good idea of your needs, it's time to get out there and see a good range of properties so that you can get a grip on what your money will buy in your chosen area. The sooner you become confident about value, the sooner you will be in a position to buy with conviction. See as much as you can, however if you find the perfect property early on in your search, don't delay—if you like it the probability is that someone else will as well!

Give detailed feedback to your agent; it will help to guide them in assisting you.

I've found it!

When you find a suitable property, consult your agent about how to proceed. An offer is about more than just money; you will be asked to provide details of:

•  Your buying position
•  Proposed timeframes
•  Any inclusions (curtains, carpets, etc)
•  How you propose to fund the purchase

The seller will expect us to obtain all of this information as it will aid them in their decision making.

What happens now?

After a sale has been agreed, your agent will be the main point of communication between all parties involved in the transaction and will be with you every step of the way to assist where at all possible. Your immediate priority is to:

•  Instruct a solicitor with recent experience of your chosen area.
•  Organise to have a survey carried out on the property.
•  Once the legal (or 'conveyancing') work has been carried out and your finances are in order, you will be in a position to 'exchange contracts' prior to the agreed 'completion', at which point you can take possession of the property.

Any other advice?

•  Invest time in your agent; the better they understand your needs, the more they can help.
•  Make sure everybody who needs to see the property has seen it before you offer.
•  This is an exciting yet sometimes stressful time for all involved. Be aware of the feelings of all those involved in the transaction and try and react logically and calmly to the ups and downs of the transaction
•  Get your ducks in a row; there are thousands of mortgage products on the market. Consult an independent mortgage advisor who can tailor the product to your needs.
•  Don't judge a book by its cover – no property will look like home until you have moved in!

Preparing your property for viewings

Instant smell! Instant sell!

Everyone knows that trick. Brew up a pot of real coffee just before that door bell rings and make sure the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans wafts through the hall and smacks likely buyers in the face just as they walk through the door. That's one. But probably not the best one. Consider these:

•  A freshly painted front door is a good place to start. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

•  A confident buyer sweeps into a room. An unconvinced buyer has had to sweep through litter, pizza menus, junk mail and last year's autumn leaves in the hall just to get in. Keep things tidy.

•  In winter, have lights on during the day time. They can add enchantment. Or disenchantment, if light bulbs are missing.

•  Now there's a big difference between getting a feel of a place and having to feel our way around. Which is why lighting in a room is important. In summer, natural light can liven a place up and give a feeling of freshness and cleanliness. So draw back those curtains — and open those windows. If you don't have curtains and it's still dark, check your windows. They may need urgent cleaning. There's always a first time.

•  Air in– damp smells out. Make use of ‘plug-ins' or scented candles

•  In vacant properties, always leave some furniture behind to give the place a lived in feeling.

•  They say that if a buyer sits down in a property, they're at ease with the place — and is possibly thinking of putting in an offer. For this reason, make sure there's space round sofas and armchairs so viewers don't have to step over coffee tables and magazines to get to them.

•  Peeling paint on a window — or a garden gate hanging off its hinges — suggests that work needs to be done on the property. This could be used to re-negotiate the price.

•  If you have a garden, check outside the house is as neat and tidy as the inside.

•  In winter, if you have a fireplace, have a fire blazing. Hearths can move hearts

•  To a nervous first-time buyer, a damp stain caused by a minor past leakage suggests an impending flood.