Whether you are buying or selling a home, or doing both, there are a number of important steps which are listed here to help you.
Valuation
Get your own house valued before you start hunting for another. You need a factual, accurate appraisal in the light of the current market. It’s best to get two or three valuations; we can provide you with a no obligation free of charge valuation/market appraisal just ask, and one of our experts will arrange a date and time.
Giving Us the Green Light
Once you have received your valuation and are happy with it, give us a call and we will then take external and internal photographs, prepare your sales particulars including floor plans and actively commence marketing your home.
Instructing Solicitors
When you instruct us, that’s the best time to instruct your solicitor too; he/she will deal with the conveyancing.
Marketing
Once you have approved our particulars, you can start to receive prospective buyers. Their appointments are made strictly through us, and we will give you an opinion on the “strength” of the applicant. Accompanied viewings can be arranged, and we will always give feedback so you know what the prospective buyers thought.
Offers
Offers are put to you promptly, at first verbally and then in writing. We will negotiate between you and our applicants to achieve the strongest buyer. If you need to move by a certain date, now is the time to tell your estate agent and your solicitor. And information about fixtures and fittings, which will probably be negotiated separately, should be passed to them too.
When all the enquiries have been answered, and the local authority search has been received, the contract can be formally approved.
Conveyancing Update
With all the parties agreeing, the memoranda of sales are sent to the solicitors. The seller’s solicitors then send a draft contract to the buyer’s. Then come preliminary legal enquiries and an application for a land registry search is made. If your property is leasehold, management charge information should promptly be sent to your solicitor; it’s essential information for the buyer.
Revised Contract
When all the enquiries have been answered, and the local authority search has been received, the contract can be formally approved.
Exchange of Contracts
So long as a mortgage offer has been received, and cleared funds placed with your buyer’s solicitor, an exchange of contracts is on the horizon. It just needs a date to be set for the exchange.
Completion
The period of time between exchanging contracts and actually moving house varies between seven and 28 days. It depends on the seller, and the buyer and the solicitor.
