USEFUL CONTACTS & ADVICE

USEFUL CONTACTS

Market Appraisal/ Valuations:

Propertypriceadvice.co.uk - download a free comprehensive online valuation report

soldpropertyprices.co.uk or thisishouseprices.co.uk or landreg.gov.uk/online (charge £2 per property for sold property prices) - check out comparable property prices

nationwide.co.uk (house prices) -includes a house price calculator -find out how the price of your property has changed over time

Location, Location (checking out your new area):

upmystreet.com - for everything you need to know about any area in the UK

www.dfes.gov.uk - check out local nurseries & schools

Change of Address:

www.royalmail.com - Postal Redirection Service

www.iammoving.com - excellent free service allowing you to send change of addresses on-line

Choosing a Surveyor:

RICS Institute of Chartered Surveyors)

MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY!

Ideas on how to increase your property’s saleability & maximise the value of your property (with little or no outlay!)

1. First impressions - ensure the front of your property looks attractive.

2. Clean your windows - not only do they look better, they also help let in more light.

3. Ensure your front door is clean and if necessary give it a coat of paint. A dirty, chipped front door is an immediate turn off for potential buyers.

4. Try and inject some colour to the front of the house by adding hanging baskets and flower pots if space permits.

5. Ensure your hall is clean and welcoming. Remove any clutter to maximise the feeling of space

6. The kitchen is one of the main selling points so again make sure it is spotless and clutter free. Work surfaces should be cleared and children’s paintings etc removed to give that extra sense of space. Any litter trays/ pet bowls etc. should also be removed.

7. Scrub mould spots off bathroom walls, and if needed replace blackened sealant. Remember to put the toilet seat down!

8. Depersonalise your home - remove photographs, newspapers and other personal items so potential buyers can imagine themselves in your home.

9. Self appraise your home and be objective. If rooms look dull and tired give them a coat of paint in a light neutral colour that will appeal to all tastes.

10. If carpets look old and worn it may be worth giving them a professional clean or replacing them with a plain light coloured carpet which will increase the feeling of space.

11. Ensure every room has a separate identity and specific purpose. For example if you have a dining area make sure you have a dining table in it! Don’t leave it to the imagination of the buyer

12. Tidy your rear garden and stage it as an extra room, adding patio furniture and injecting colour where appropriate. This will allow buyers to identify with the potential uses of the space.

13. Prefer a professional opinion? Why not let our House Doctor help. House Doc/ Home staging

THE VIEWING (SELL! SELL! SELL!)

1) Ensure the house is light and airy turning on lights where necessary

2) Make sure the house smells attractive and clean, but not too overpowering.

3) Make sure the house is warm but not stiffling.

4) Try & banish pets and their bedding outside. Not everyone likes pets, and pet odours can be a problem.

5) If you have children try and get someone to look after them if possible. Allowing you to concentrate on the big sell!

6) Don’t overcrowd the viewers. Let them enter a room first, as this will maximise the feeling of space.

7) If your garden has a southerly aspect, don’t forget to point out it’s sunny all day long. If possible point where the sun rises and sets.

8) Most buyers will ask why you are moving house, so make sure you have a positive answer. Don’t say the house is too small or traffic too noisy etc.

9) Find out about local amenities - public transport, schools, distances to local towns/ cities.

10) Have details of utility bills, rates and council tax handy.

11) Don’t look desperate to sell, be positive.

12) Only let someone in if they’ve made an appointment. If someone turns up on your doorstep, take their details and arrange a viewing later.

13) Make sure you’re never on your own when showing people round. Don’t give away any security arrangements or leave valuables on show.

VALUING YOUR PROPERTY

Most of us have a rough idea of how much our property’s worth, but make sure you do your homework by carrying out your own market appraisal. Remember estate agents simply appraise the market, it’s the mortgage lender who instructs a valuer to formally value your property once a sale has been agreed.

The advice below should be a starting point to appraise your marketplace:

1. According to the Ombudsman for Estate Agents - Code of Practice - any figure given by estate agents must be ’supportable, preferably with comparables of similar properties in a similar location.’ Get an idea of the competition - what other properties are on the market in your local vicinity and how quickly are they selling?

2. Research estate agents websites or local newspapers and property magazines to get a feel for valuations of similar properties.

3. Find out what price properties close to you have actually sold for. You can do this for free on soldpropertyprices.co.uk or thisishouseprices.co.uk Alternatively landreg.gov.uk/online charges £2 per property searched.

4. Don’t over-price your property. If your house is too high compared to similar houses your house will not sell and in the end you may end up taking a lower offer.

5. Don’t under-price your property. Do your research as suggested above and keep an eye on your local property market.

6. Keep your eye on the overall property market. Are there plenty of ’sold’ signs around? Are properties selling quickly? This probably indicates a good time to sell

7. Leave yourself a little room for negotiation, traditionally purchasers will expect to pay below the full asking price.

If you’d feel happier, get an estate agent to appraise (’value’) your home for you. Most estate agents will do this free of charge.

NEGOTIATING THE BEST DEAL

1. You set the forum for the negotiations, if you’d rather not negotiate face-to-face ask for offers via email.

2. Make sure you’ve done your homework and know what your property is worth compared to similar properties in the area.

3. Determine the status of your buyer - are they a cash buyer, first time buyer, have they already sold their property, or have they yet to sell their property?

4. Know your budget and stick to it. Have a minimum asking price in mind.

5. Don’t accept offers unless potential buyers are in a position to proceed with the sale. If they still have a house to sell it’s advisable to continue marketing the property until their house is sold, or you receive an offer from a buyer who’s in a position to proceed.

6. Consider offers carefully before accepting them. Tell potential buyers you’ll consider their offer and get back to them. This will take the pressure off and avoid you making a hasty decision.

7. If your property has attracted lots of interest and you have numerous viewings booked, make sure you let everyone view your property first before accepting any offers.

8. Keep cool & don’t sound desperate to sell