Deciding to put your home on the market can be a big decision, one you have probably considered for some time.
But the process can feel drawn out once you go through all the stages of selling and getting to the moving day. So, what can you do to help move matters along?
1. Research your local agents
Before putting your house on the market, look into your local agents to find out what they offer and how they plan to get your house sold for the best possible price. Agents all work in different ways and it is helpful to find an agent who you feel you can work with effectively, as ultimately you and your agent are a team in getting an offer on your house. Recommendations, reading up on reviews and meeting with the agents will give you a feel for who is best suited to work with you.
2. Research your local Conveyancers
Just as with your agent, you and your Conveyancer will be a team at getting your house sold once an offer has been received so it is important that you find a Conveyancer you feel you can trust to put your best interest first. Again, looking at reviews and speaking to those who have recently gone through the conveyancing process can be helpful. It is also recommended that when looking at quotes, you familiarise yourself with the full list of additional fees to gather an understanding of what you may be charged for the transaction as until the legal process has started it is hard to predict what may arise that falls outstanding the “standard” conveyancing transaction.
3. Gather as much information about the house
It is helpful for agents to have as much information about the house up front, this allows the prospective buyer to make a sensible offer considering all the known factors and should reduce the possibility of a reduced offer being made during the conveyancing process when legal enquiries are raised.
This is also important to be passed onto your conveyancer once you have instructed them as this information can be provided to the buyers’ solicitors along with contract pack which should then alleviate the number of enquiries needing to be raised and subsequently needing responses from you.
Paperwork that is handy to have to avoid delays are as follows:
• Valid EPC (you can check if there is an EPC for your property on the following website www.epcregister.co.uk)
• Planning permission/ building regulations for any alterations/ extensions
• FENSA certificates for replacement windows
• Warranties
• Boiler installation and most recent service report
• Electrical installation and test report
4. Contact the management company and Landlord (if leasehold)
If you are selling a leasehold property you may wish to contact the management company and/ or Landlord up front to establish the procedure and costs for obtaining the leasehold information. This information is valid for 6 months so you may wish to hold off ordering this until you have an acceptable offer however it is useful to find out what is required from you in order to obtain this information, such as budgeting for the fees, completing any authority forms and ensuring you are getting the necessary information from the correct parties to avoid delays within the conveyancing process further down the line.
You may also wish to provide service charge statements, ground rent receipts, correspondence from the landlord/ management company, information on major works and any risk assessments (fire, health and safety) to the agent to ensure that the information provided to the prospective buyers is up to date and accurate.
5. Keep everyone informed
If you are purchasing another property that is linked to the purchase or if you are securing a rental property it is beneficial to keep your sale agent and your Conveyancer informed on progress on these matters so that they can ensure the files are progressed together and that the chain are kept in the loop with regard to possible timeframes. Honesty is the best policy and if there are any delays, people are much more understanding if they have the full story.
6. Declutter
Packing can seem like a daunting task and with the average house sale taking approximately 12 – 14 weeks (freehold) or 14 – 16 weeks (leasehold) it is not something you want to start too early, so you are “living out of boxes” for that time. However, it is efficient to declutter and box up any items you will not need, this also helps with staging the property for viewings.
Preparing your home for sale isn’t just about making it look good on the day of the viewing — it’s about removing friction long before a buyer even steps through the door. By organising your paperwork early, tackling small repairs, decluttering, refreshing the space, and choosing your solicitor in advance, you put yourself in the best possible position for a smooth, fast, and successful sale. These steps don’t just save time; they build buyer confidence and help your home stand out in a competitive market. A little preparation now can make a big difference to your final outcome.
How we can help
If you would like a free, no obligation conveyancing quotation, please visit our website at https://timms-law.com/personal-services/conveyancing/ alternatively, please call the team on freephone 0800 011 6666.
