Home Solutions - Selling

SELLING

As your home is probably your biggest asset it makes sense to take the professional advice of an estate agent when you want to sell it. At Home Solutions we will guide you through the whole process from valuation to completion making sure that you understand exactly what is happing with your sale.

When is the right time?

Generally, the market tends to be stronger in the spring and then picks up again in the late summer and early autumn. Your property will obviously sell quicker when the market is strong and demand is high. Therefore, keep an eye on the property market and time your sale well.
House sales are also affected by interest rates. Few people are willing to take out a £150,000 mortgage when the Bank of England has just voiced intentions of raising interest rates by two percentage points.
If you are looking to buy a new home as well as selling your own home, it is recommended that you put your house up for sale before you start looking for new properties. Some buyers even wait until they have had an offer made on their property before they start looking. You will then be able to time the process much better because you will have an idea how quickly you can sell and you can estimate the price your new home can be.

Minor repairs make your house easier to sell, allowing you to maximize your return or minimize loss on the sale.

Most buyers are looking for a house in good condition that they can move into straight away.
Buyers who are willing to do the repairs after moving in automatically take the cost of this work off the price they offer.
You save nothing by not doing necessary repairs, and you may slow down the sale of your home.

Buyers probably will not even come inside your home if they do not like the look of it from outside.

Many buyers drive past a house before deciding whether to look inside.
The outside of your house will have less than a minute to make a good first impression.
Mow the lawn, trim shrubs and trees, and weed the garden. Clear paths and drives of leaves and other rubbish.
Repair gutters and eaves, touch up the exterior paint and repair or resurface cracked drives and paths.
Place flowers in pots and/or hanging baskets at the front of the house near the door.

Buyers will not hesitate to walk out of the front door within two minutes if the house does not look and feel as if they could make it their home.

Most buyers are looking for an inviting home they can move into straight away.
De-clutter. Most buyers are looking at the amount of space your property has to offer.
Clean from top to bottom including paintwork and windows to show your property to its best potential.
De-personalise, remove family photos, children's drawings etc. Buyers need to visualise that this could be their own home.
If you have pets it may be a good idea to have them looked after during viewings, not all buyers will be pet lovers.
Spending some money for necessary work on your home before you sell it usually makes sure you get a better price and sell more quickly.

A step-by-step guide to moving home
Step 1. Book a removal firm
Unless you do not have a lot of furniture and personal belongings, it is worth hiring a removal company. Ask friends and family whether they can recommend a firm to you. They will probably visit your home before making a quote to get an idea of the amount of furniture and boxes you will be moving. This is so that they can provide the correct number of staff to assist with the move and an appropriate sized vehicle(s). Ask them whether the quote includes insurance for any damage to your belongings during transit and what they will do if there is an accident. If you decide to move your belongings yourself, hire a van. Again, obtain a couple of quotes before making a decision and check that you are not limited to a certain mileage. If you choose to do it yourself, enlist the help of family and friends and make sure that someone can help carry heavy items of furniture. Check whether your home and contents insurance will cover you for any belongings damaged during the move.

Step 2. Get organised
Moving home is one of the most stressful life experiences. However, a little bit of forward planning can go a long way towards making your move as smooth as possible.

A month before you move

Book time off work if necessary
If you are living in rented accommodation give notice to your landlord once you have a confirmed completion date
Have a clear out. Anything that you don't need should be recycled or given to charity
Obtain packing materials such as newspapers, tissue paper, boxes, cardboard, wrapping, padding and parcel tape
Contact your telephone and utility providers and tell them you're moving

Two weeks before you move

Contact the removal firm with the final details
Start packing things you rarely use
Phone the telephone company and ask them to connect the phone in your new home
Tell the local authority that you're moving

One week before you move

Pack everything except things that you will need between now and your move
Redirect your mail
Pay any outstanding bills
Use the checklist below to inform the right people and relevant authorities that you are moving
Put important and valuable items, such as passports, birth certificates and jewellery, in a safe place
Obtain TV licence for your new home

The day before you move

Finalise last minute packing
Pack a box of essential items, such as toilet paper, a torch, a kettle, teabags, coffee, mugs, spare bulbs etc
Defrost the fridge and freezer
Disconnect appliances
Check your utility suppliers have switched on your gas, electricity and phone in your new home
Clean the house
Leave a 'welcome' card for the people who have bought your house, along with a few local takeaway menus and any instructions they may need
Get a good night's rest!

Your moving day

Turn off electricity, gas and water supplies at the mains at your old address
Check all appliances are disconnected
Secure all windows and doors before heading to your new home

Packing tips

Label which boxes are for which rooms - this will make it easier to unpack and find essential items when you arrive in your new home
Label each box and write a brief summary on a separate sheet of paper as to what is in that box. This is especially useful if you don't think you will be unpacking each box immediately after your move (for example; if there is limited storage space)
Mark fragile items clearly - and if you're moving yourself, load them into the van last
Take very fragile items with you in your car
If you're moving your belongings yourself, put one or two heavy items into each container so that they weigh roughly the same
Remember to keep essential items handy until the last minute - this may include a kettle, a couple of mugs, toilet paper, snacks, water etc.

Moving checklist
When you move, it is important that you remember to inform the following: