Over the 9 years, we’ve been serving the people of Selby, we’ve helped hundreds of clients take their first steps onto the property ladder.
Our experience means we know just how exciting, terrifying, inspiring, and overwhelming the whole process can be.
Some people are excited about moving out of rented, shared accommodation, or parents’ homes.
Others are anxious about the amount of responsibility, paperwork, and money this move involves.
We are here to guide and support you throughout the ups and downs of your home buying journey.
We aim to ensure you have the right guidance and support to help you make the best decision for you and your future.
After reading this, you may find it beneficial to have a no-obligation, confidential chat with us about your situation.
Thank you for your time, and please get in touch with us if you have any questions whatsoever.
Director
JP Harll
If you are considering selling your property, the first thing to look at is your motivation. Don’t underestimate what you’re undertaking. Disruption to your routines can be stressful. You may also want to write a list of pros and cons to clarify your ideas.
There are online tools that give an approximate idea of your home’s value — a decent starting point but not as accurate as an expert valuation.
Independent mortgage advisers can help estimate how much money you’ll have after a sale and advise on options if you’re buying another property.
If you’re buying another property, you might hear about “porting” your mortgage — this basically means paying off your current mortgage and taking out a new one. Be aware there may be early repayment charges on your existing mortgage.
Your estate agent will likely recommend a solicitor. They deal with solicitors daily so can advise on experience and ability to handle your sale.
Your agent will arrange an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which is legally required to sell. Staging your home — arranging furniture and decor to show living potential — helps visitors imagine living in the space.
Examples of simple improvements before listing:
Replace blown lightbulbs
Paint chipped skirting boards or walls
Clean windows
Add fresh flowers
Keep pet and children’s items tidied away for photos/viewings
Invite three agents to value your property. Ensure their valuation is backed up with evidence. Don’t just choose based on the highest valuation or cheapest fee — this can be misleading.
Your estate agent will be able to help you arrange an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). This is a legal requirement for every home to be able to be sold.
Staging your home sounds like a big task. It just means ensuring everyone that visits will be able to appreciate it. For example, use cardboard boxes with freshly made bed linens to demonstrate how a double bed will fit in a spare room.
Most people don’t move home very often. It can be hard to imagine things in a new home as they would like them, so help them out.
Some examples of things to do prior to going on the market:
Replace any blown lightbulbs
Paint chipped skirting boards
Fix peeling wallpaper
Clean windows
Pop a vase of fresh flowers out
Keep pet and children’s items tidied away before photos/viewings
For some tailored suggestions for you and your property, feel free to get in touch for a no obligation chat. If the property seems clean and well-cared for, this helps potential buyers trust that more significant things have been taken care of, too. Your estate agent can help put you in touch with local trusted tradespeople if you need an extra pair of hands. You want to ensure the appeal of the property is as broad as possible. Never assume you know who will buy it. In our careers, we’ve sold mansions to single people and flats to families. Properties present better when they’re relatively sparsely decorated. Removing personal items, like photos and ornaments, can help viewers imagine their things in the home. So, get packing. You could designate one evening a week for sorting and sifting. The sooner you start, the easier it is nearer the actual move date.
Q: How long will it take to sell my property?
A: This is the proverbial ‘piece of string’ question. Across the UK, there is a national average of viewings it takes to sell a home. Regardless of the economy, the estate agent, or the strategy, the figure usually ends up at around 15 viewings per property. How quickly these 15 viewings take place is much more likely to be down to the skill and strategy of your estate agent. Once you’ve got an offer, the solicitors are the ones in charge of timescales. This is why taking your estate agent’s advice on the best one for your situation is so crucial. It can take as little as ten weeks from offer to completion. BUT it can often take a lot longer.
Q: How much will I pay my estate agent?
A: A: When selling a property, the fees can be anywhere from 1% to 3% of the achieved sale price.
This changes from area to area. Before signing the contract, make sure that the fee is based on
the achieved price, not the listing price (the price you put your house on the market for).
Q: What paperwork do I need?
A: You’ll need your ID documents, first and foremost. Your title deeds are likely to be electronic these days.
If you have a leasehold property, you’ll need a copy of your lease. In this circumstance, or if you own a share of the freehold, you’ll need to request a management pack. Asking for this as soon as you’ve thought about selling is a top tip. Getting hold of these can delay whole chains, so it’s well worth doing early on.
Your solicitor, or conveyancer, will provide you with the property information form and the fittings & contents form. Get these filled out early on as well. That way, if there are any areas you need to research, you’ve got plenty of time and don’t end up causing delays later on.
The EPC is another important document, as we’ve already mentioned. Once the energy assessor has visited, the EPC gets uploaded to epcregister.com, so you don’t need a paper copy.
You might need warranty documents if your property is less than ten years old. You may also have to get indemnity insurance. This is often required for something called ‘chancel repair liability’ and costs about £10. Your solicitor will advise on this, however.
Below is an 11-point checklist to help you prepare for your property sale and your move:
When you’ve decided it’s time to put your property on the market, contact at least three estate agents for valuations. Check if the prices they provide seem realistic by doing some research online.
Instruct a conveyancing solicitor before listing.
Begin decluttering — charity shops, home clearance, auction houses can help.
Start packing early.
After accepting an offer and agreeing a completion date, get quotes from at least three removal companies.
Inform banks, utility companies, and insurance providers of your move.
Redirect your mail.
Prepare an essentials box for moving day (e.g., kettle, cups, keys, medicines, wallet).
Notify schools and childcare providers of your move.
Arrange disconnection/connection of utilities at both properties.
Check your home is clean and secure on the day you leave.
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