Prepare your home for sale checklist

Checklists

Checklist provided by 

www.readersdigest-magazine.co.uk

 

 

 
Find as much paperwork as you can on the property you own now from when you originally bought it.
List all of the work you have had done on the property from electrics to extensions.
Secure copies of any guarantees and safety certificates you have on the property such as a timber and damp guarantee or fitting of a new boiler – go back to when you can.
  Find any paperwork relating to shared access to your property (garden or driveway).
  Make sure you know which of the boundary belongs to you and which to your neighbours Know which local authority you are in and have a copy of the latest council tax bill.
  Note down all the service providers for your home such as electric and gas, water, cable etc.
  Secure quotes from legal companies and ask them if they can prepare contracts of sale in advance of receiving an offer.
Make sure the legal company includes all fees, including stamp duty, legal costs, bank transfer fees, land registry fees, VAT and get them to confirm all fees are included in writing.
Check which estate agents have sold properties similar to your location and price range in the last few months (ignore ones which have just put ‘for sale’ signs up with no sale board).
Find three agents who have sold properties in your area/price range and ask them for a valuation.
When the agents visit, ask them how long they think it will take to sell your home, how many viewings they think it will take to sell, how many buyers they have on their books currently looking for your type of property in your price bracket.
Ask the agent for three prices: a marketing price, a six week sale price and a ‘quick sale’ price.
Ask to see ‘comparable’ evidence of similar properties they have sold, how long it took and how many viewings it required to secure an offer. If they don’t show you any comparables to back up their valuation, don’t instruct them.
Instruct your estate agent and legal company and prepare your contract for sale.

 


All our information is brought to you by Kate Faulkner OBE, author of Which? Property books and one of the UK's top property experts.
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