The process of selling a property takes place over a number of months, but there are actions the seller can take to ensure the process goes smoothly.
- Appoint a Solicitor
Appointing a solicitor is the first and one of the most important steps in beginning your journey to sell your house. Shop around and seek recommendations from people who have recently used the services of a solicitor to sell property.
- Get your Documentation in Order
Once you’ve appointed a solicitor, they will advise you on the documents you need in order to sell. Typically, these documents include:
- Title Deeds
- Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER)
- NPPR Certificate
- Proof of payment of Water Rates (Commercial properties only)
- Land Registry Map
- Declaration of Identity
- Get your Home Sale-Ready
Making a good first impression is key when selling your property. There are a few simple ways to enhance the visual appeal of your home to get potential buyers over the line.
- Tidy up – clear the house of all clutter prior to viewings.
- Deep clean – make your property sparkle with a deep clean of your kitchen, bathrooms, windows, doors, floors and furniture.
- Exterior – kerb appeal is everything. Tidy the garden, weed gravel areas and flower beds, and mow the grass.
- Neutralise – make your home as neutral as possible so that potential buyers can imagine living there, put away all personal photos and belongings prior to viewings.
- Going Sale Agreed
It’s finally happened, and the finish line is in sight. An offer that you’re happy with has been made and the house has gone sale agreed. The buyer will pay a deposit of 5% to your estate agent. This deposit is fully refundable until the contract is signed. It’s important to retain contact with your solicitor at this time to ensure the sale remains on track, and provide your preferred date to vacate the house, pending closure of the sale.
- Closing the Sale
You’re almost there! Your solicitor will issue the contract to the buyer’s solicitor. The buyer’s solicitor may come back with some pre-contract queries. Once these are resolved, the buyers will sign the contract and pay 10% of the purchase price into your solicitor’s bank account.
This process usually takes 6 to 8 weeks and it is important that you keep communication open with your solicitor to quickly resolve any issues that might crop up.
Once the buyers have signed the contract, it will be sent back to your solicitor for you to sign. On the day of closing, the buyers will transfer the remainder of the purchase price to your solicitor’s account, at which point you will make the house and the keys available to the new owners.
Congratulations, you’ve sold your house and are ready to move on!