Selling A House Process: Step-by-Step To Sell Your House

Published: 26/10/2024 By Cavender Estate Agent

Selling your house is a notoriously complex and stressful activity. It can drag on for months, it is often affected by things outside of your control such as property chains, and the state of the economy, and it is an emotional upheaval. However, making sure that you are working with a professional and supportive estate agent, such as the team at Cavender, will help to make the process that little bit easier. Planning and preparation are also key points to ensure that your house sale goes smoothly, and as part of this, we have broken down the house-selling process into a number of steps, to make it easier and less stressful. Preparation in house selling can also help you to get a good offer on your house, and maximise your final sale price and profit.

Step 1: Deciding Whether to Sell

Selling your house is a big decision, so it is important that you take time to evaluate whether this is the right decision, and also if it is the right time. Why do you want to sell? Do you need more space? Do you want to change areas, so that you are in a good school catchment? If you need more space, you may be able to extend your house, which could prove cheaper than moving. However, if you need to change locations then you may have to move. Bear in mind, that moving is expensive, and that it is worth evaluating the market to see if the best time to move is now. Consider whether you want to buy or rent after selling your house. Renting can have advantages, as it breaks the chain, and puts you in a very strong position when you come to buy again.

Step 2: Organising Your Finances

As we know moving house is expensive, but make sure you understand all the costs involved so that you don't get caught out, and so that you can budget accordingly. Your estate agent fees will usually be a percentage of the sale, and this should be clearly stated in your contract with your estate agent. Your solicitor should give you an estimate for the sale of your property, bear in mind if you are buying another property, then this will add to the cost. Check on the terms of your mortgage, if you are buying another property then your mortgage should port across though this may carry a fee, but if you are going into rented, you may be charged an early repayment fee on your mortgage. Also, consider that if you are buying another property you will be liable for stamp duty as well. By understanding the costs involved you will be able to budget and manage your finances more effectively.

Step 3: Preparing Your House for Sale

Whilst you probably have a rough idea of what your house is worth, always get a professional property valuation before you make any assumptions. A good estate agent will be able to suggest minor changes that you can make to boost curb appeal and attract more interest. Decluttering is a good place to start, as all homes look bigger once they are tidy. Carry out minor repairs, and make sure your home is clean and welcoming. Make sure you have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as well.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Estate Agent

You don't have to use an estate agent to sell your home, you could choose to sell your home privately. While this gives you the advantage of saving you the estate agent fees, it can be a challenge. Choosing a good estate agent will give you professional and reliable support throughout the process, ensuring that your home is well-marketed and that it achieves a good sale price. Finding an estate agent that you can trust and work with is an all-important part of the process. Bear in mind that the best estate agent, may not be the cheapest. If you need a quick sale for whatever reason, then you can go straight to a house-buying firm, who will buy your house swiftly, though often for a lower-than-market-value offer.

Step 5: Setting the Right Property Price

Ultimately your house is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. However, start by looking at comparable houses in your neighbourhood to get a guideline price. Bear in mind the correlation between price and time. The higher the price you want to sell your house for, the longer you may have to wait. If you need a quick sale, you need a competitive price. You will be able to discuss all of this with your estate agent, to come to an agreed valuation to advertise your house for sale.

Step 6: Marketing Your House

Good marketing will ensure that your home reaches the right people, who are ready to buy. Using professional photos, and good descriptions will encourage viewings, and lead to a quick sale. As well as marketing your home on the big property platforms, discuss with your estate agent other marketing avenues such as social media. If you are selling your home yourself, be very clear about the rules around advertising, so that you don't get caught out.

Step 7: Accepting an Offer

Hopefully, you will soon get an offer on your property. When you get the offer, it is important to consider the financial position of the potential buyer. A high offer from a buyer waiting for mortgage approval may be more risky than a lower offer from a cash buyer. Also, it is very important to understand the property chain. Chains can be extremely difficult and can make the whole process of selling a property far more stressful and complicated. Always check the position of any potential buyers before deciding whether or not to accept an offer.

Step 8: Choosing a Conveyancer or Solicitor

You will need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to ensure that all the legalities of your house move are handled correctly. Most people use the solicitor that they used to buy the house, as they will already have a lot of information about the property on file, which can make it easier. Make sure that you have any paperwork that is required ready, to help speed the process up.

Step 9: Exchanging Contracts

The exchange of contracts is a legally binding agreement that you will sell your property to the buyer. They will put down a deposit on the property, and you will agree on a date for completion. If your buyer pulls out of the sale after this time, they forfeit their deposit. If you pull out, you will need to return the property deposit.

Step 10: Preparing to Move Out

Now that you have a final moving date, you will need to ensure that you will be ready to leave your property with vacant possession by the agreed date. Vacant possession means that the property is empty and ready for the buyers to move in. You will need to pack up all your possessions and book a removal company to move everything out for you. During the sale process you will have discussed fixtures and fittings with your buyers, so make sure that you leave behind items as specified on this list. Some sellers agree to leave items such as curtain poles, while other sellers choose to take everything. If you are buying another property, make sure that the chain is all ready to complete on the agreed day, so that your finance is all in place for your purchase.

Step 11: Completion of Sale

Completion day is when the ownership of all the homes in your chain transfers. You will need to be in touch with your solicitor or conveyancing team during the day, to ensure that the funds have transferred along the chain correctly. If you are financing your next home with a mortgage, you should ensure that the mortgage is ready before the final day, so that you are only waiting for the money from your sale on completion day. Once your solicitor has received the money for your property you can release the keys. 

Step 12: After the Sale

After the sale, you must make sure that all the bills associated with the sale are settled, such as estate agent fees, solicitor fees and removal fees. You must also ensure that you have informed all service providers of your move and paid final bills for all services. And then you can relax in your new home!

Sell Your Home with Cavender Estate Agent

Here at Cavender Estate Agent, we know that selling your home can be a stressful business. We are here to help take the stress out of the process and ensure that selling your home doesn't have to be a minefield. With our professional team, and our in-depth local knowledge we can market your home effectively to ensure that you get the best offer for your home. Come to the team at Cavender Estate Agent today and sell your home tomorrow! Call us on 01483 457728. For more details on selling your home see our selling guide