Vendors
Market Appraisal
The first step to selling your property is to request a market appraisal from Eaton Properties. This will give you all you need to know on how to present your property and the expected value achievable. You can do this by entering your details on our website, phone us, email info@eaton-properties.com or alternative stop by our office at 5 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3TW.
Presenting Your Property for Sale
The presentation of your property is key to the ease of the sale and the price that can be achieved. First impressions definitely count, so it is really important to prepare your property to have it looking its best for each and every viewing. A few improvements or maintenance issues fixed can make a huge difference to you properties appeal. Think how you would like to find a hotel room, if you found it a mess and with problems you wouldn't be that please. This is how potential purchasers view your property. As well as looking great they also need to imagine themselves living there, so the removal of any personal artefacts, such as family portraits can really help this.
Agreeing a Sale
Our expert team will conduct viewing up to the point were we have a purchaser that shows interest in your property and wants to put in an offer. Our staff are trained in the art of negotiating and working with you, we are confident that we will achieve the best price possible for you property.
Instructing Your Solicitor
It is important to instruct a solicitor as soon as you agree a sale if not before. If you can instruct them before this gives them the time to collate the necessary legal documents required. A good solicitor can make the difference between a sale completing or falling through.
Make sure your solicitor gives you a fixed price for their work and a good indication of how much the disbursement, such as searches will be. Your solicitor must be fully qualified to handle your transaction and have an adequate number of staff to efficiently process your transaction without delay. It is helpful for your solicitor to provide their direct phone number and a personal email for you to keep track of your conveyancing. We don't feel that your solicitor needs to be local these days as most work is done by email or post. Eaton Properties can recommend solicitors who have previously provided a professional and efficient service to past clients.
Leasehold Properties
Prior to instructing an agent, gather all documents you may hold regarding your leasehold property. Make sure you have a copy of your lease, ground rent receipts and service charge accounts for the last three years. Although these documents will be included in your HIP, purchasers are often concerned about overheads with leasehold properties and it is very helpful to be able to give these details to a would be purchaser when they are in the process of viewing your property
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
The Energy Performance Certificate will be included in the HIP and provides an energy efficiency rating for a home. The ratings range from A to G (A being most efficient and G the least). This is similar to the ratings now displayed for domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. The rating is based on factors such as age, property layout, construction, heating, lighting and insulation. The ratings are standard and consumers can easily compare the energy efficiency of one home with another. The energy rating graphs from the EPC must be included in the written marketing particulars or attached to them as a separate document.
Guarantees
It is important to gather guarantees you have on your property and deposit copies of these with your solicitor. Long term warranties covering timber and damp-proofing are invaluable and shorter term guarantees covering recent improvements give a buyer confidence when considering the purchase of their new home.
Agents Contracts
When instructing an agent you will be required to sign their written Terms and Conditions. Make sure you read this document very carefully and understand every condition prior to signing. There are two principle contracts that one can enter into with Eaton Properties:
Sole Agency
Only Eaton Properties are instructed for a specified period of time. The standard contractual period is usually 12 weeks. Accept an offer via another agent and you may have to pay more than one fee. Commission rates are generally lower for a sole agency.
Multiple Agency
Instruct Eaton Properties as well as other agents and the agent that finds the buyer is entitled to the fee. As a rule commission rates are normally much higher than that of a sole agency. This is normally as last resort if you are struggling to sell.
This information is not definitive and is only a guide to the process of selling. For further advice please speak to one of our sales team who will be pleased to help.
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