Selling Guide

Set the expectations

Our advice for selling a property aligns closely with the advice for buying. The first step is always understanding your objective. Why are you looking to sell now? Are you moving to a different area, upgrading to a larger home, downsizing, looking to cash out, or investing in something else? Do you have a timeline in mind or a specific price you need to reach for your next move? Be upfront about your expectations with your estate agent. This clarity will help them market your property and move the transaction along. Or in the case of unrealistic expectations, a conversation could be had at the beginning.

Understand the market

Research is key in selling, too. As a seller, you need to have some idea on the local market and the prices of similar properties in your area, even if you choose to work with an estate agent. Invite at least three round for a beauty parade. Let them assess your property and share their thoughts on market conditions and valuations. Some agents may offer an optimistic valuation to win the mandate while others may recommend pricing lower to drum up a bidding war. Some might suggest private viewings before making a public listing. The strategies can vary based on market and property conditions. Having some knowledge yourself, like recent sales data for your postcode, helps filter their suggestions more effectively.

Know your agent

Understand how the agent works and how they plan to push the sale forward. At larger agencies, the person pitching to you might not be the one handling the property marketing or managing the transaction. Viewing could be carried out by contractors and feedback could be patchy. Or the account could be transferred to another team after offer acceptance. Be clear about how their internal process works. While commissions are a factor, their approach is just as important. Estate agents are there to remove the stress from the process. Beyond reviews and recommendations, take the time to speak to them directly. Likewise, interview a few solicitors. Have one lined up before you list your property so they are ready to go as soon as an offer is in.

Prepare the property

First impressions do matter. Unless you are marketing the property as a fixer-upper, small repairs or improvements, like tidying the garden or cleaning the grout, can make a big difference. You do not need to make major changes, as your buyer may have their own preferences. For a lived-in home, being clean and organised (read: ruthless decluttering) will often be sufficient.

Know your buyer

Before accepting an offer, you should have all the necessary details about the buyer, such as how proceedable they are and whether their timeline matches yours. Both parties should be aligned and well prepared when entering conveyancing. Keep in mind that your agent typically will not be involved in your interactions with solicitor, even when you go with their recommendation. Do not make any assumption. If you expect them to take a more active role in that part of the process, make that clear upfront. A lot of frustration in the buying and selling process arises from mismatched expectations. Aside from price difference, clear communication can often resolve many of the differences.

Do not get sentimental

Try not to get too sentimental when selling a family home. While the memories and emotional attachments are natural, letting them overwhelm your decisions can cloud the judgment and affect the sale process. Focus on the practical aspects, such as market value, timing, and getting the best price. It is a business transaction. Approach it with a business attitude.