Sales & Lettings Knowledge Base

Valuation

The first step to selling is to invite an estate agent to visit your property to assess what your home is worth. Sure Sales & Lettings will give you both a marketing price and a price we would expect to achieve. Our aim is to achieve you the highest possible price within a time frame to suit you. At this stage, we would discuss the selling process, our fees and our marketing strategy whilst answering any questions you may have. We will also show you a selection of comparable properties we have sold to validate our valuation.

Preparing Your Property for the Market

First impressions count, so try to make sure that your property has an attractive frontage with a tidy garden, clean exterior walls and a smart front door. This will give potential viewers the best possible image of the property when they see the ‘For Sale’ board or the photograph on the brochure.

A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference for the internal aspects of a property and can also be relatively inexpensive. Neutral colours are usually best. “Spring-cleaning” the interior of the property by tidying and removing clutter from each room can create a fresh atmosphere for viewings and show off the space that exists. Ensuring that door handles, dripping taps and scuffed paint are fixed can be vitally important in the sale of your home even though they may seem like small jobs.  All in all, present your property at its best whilst always remembering that it is a working household at the same time.

Due to the money laundering regulations of 2007 you will need to provide Sure Sales & Lettings with Identification before the property is uploaded to the open market.  You will also need an EPC (Energy performance certificate) if you do not already have one, don’t panic Sure can help get this arranged with an approved contractor.

Once you have instructed Sure photography will be carried out along with a detailed floor plan which will form the basis of our marketing literature and marketing. An opportunity will be given to amend and approve these before your property is placed onto websites and sent out to prospective buyers. Our sales team will then visit your property giving them an insight into its key selling features.

Viewings

Many owners like to be present while viewings take place, others prefer to give the estate agent the keys. Either way, we will arrange all appointments at suitable times for you. Even if you live at the property our team are available to show buyers around which enables us to obtain immediate feedback that purchasers are often too polite to express directly to the seller. We are also trained to overcome any objections that may arise from this. Equally knowing why buyers do not favour a property should enable us to adjust our marketing to secure a buyer from subsequent viewings.

Accepting an Offer

Once you start to receive offers, we will discuss all aspects of the purchasers with you, such as current buying position, mortgages and time frames. All of this information will help you make an informed decision on the buyer that you will eventually proceed with. We will advise and guide you along the way, remembering that the final decision can only be yours.

Instructing a solicitor

The successful sale of your home or any onward purchase can be reliant on the instruction of an efficient solicitor who has expertise in the conveyance process along with a good understanding of the local area. It is advisable to carry out research and make a decision before placing your property on the market. Sure Sales & Lettings can help you with recommendations as in many cases the relationship with the solicitor is key for the transaction to run smoothly and overcome any issues that may arise.

Exchange

Once the buyers’ mortgage offer (if required) has been confirmed and all enquiries including searches have been agreed, both parties will sign contracts and agree on a completion date. In addition, your buyers will pay their solicitor the deposit (normally 10%) and, if required, you would need to contact your removal company to confirm the completion day. The solicitors will then exchange contracts and your sale will become legally binding.

Completion

Once your conveyancer confirms that the deal has been completed, you’ll need to arrange for your house keys to be handed over to the buyer. Take meter readings, make a new will, and congratulate yourself for successfully selling your house!

Are Your Finances in Order?

A common mistake that people make is to start looking for a new home without speaking to a mortgage consultant first.  If a mortgage is required, it is wise to have a mortgage arranged in principle before you start your search.  Knowing what you can afford will also help you to narrow your search and give you a considerable degree of confidence.  This will also show prospective sellers that you are serious in your attempt to purchase a new home. If you would like to speak to our recommended broker, then please speak to a member of the Sure Sales team. Moving to a new house is a costly exercise and you will need to factor in varying costs when you begin; such as stamp duty, solicitors costs, removals, estate agents fees and much more.

If you have a property to Sell

Before you start the search for your next home, it is vitally important to make sure you are in a proceedable position. If you have a property to sell, in our opinion the first step you should take is to secure a purchaser for your own property.  To do this you will need to arrange a market appraisal with your local expert agent.  Please arrange a valuation with Sure Sales & Lettings by calling us on 01442 252579.

Why is it important to have secured a buyer for your own property before you start your search? In this highly competitive market, you need to put yourself in the strongest possible position.  If you see the home of your dreams but have not placed your own on the market, then you will be seen in the eyes of sellers and their agents as being in a weak position, as you will need to sell your home before you can start the process.  It is common place to be competing with many other purchasers who are in strong positions and it is highly likely you will end up losing the property because of this.

Finding a property

Whereabouts are you looking?  What are you looking for?  This can alter during the process, however, it is a good idea to do some research into areas, schools, transport links etc before you start the search.  Next, you need to register, to register with Sure Sales & Lettings please clicking here or register by phone on 01442 252579.

Once we have a clear understanding of your requirements, you will receive a selection of properties that match your criteria. We will also keep you up-to-date with new properties that come on to the market.

Viewings

Once we find something that piques your interest, it is time to start viewing. Let us know which property you wish to view, and we will arrange a viewing at the earliest convenient time.

Sure sales & Lettings trained, and experienced staff are on hand to accompany viewings and will be able to provide insight on the local area and the property itself.

Make your offer

Let us know your offer, and we’ll contact the seller to begin negotiations. Consider things like your available funds — are you in a chain? Your timescales, too: can you do the deal at a time that suits them too? Once an offer has been placed you may be asked to provide additions documentation. This is normal practice as all estate agents must conform to the Money Laundering Regulations, and doing thorough checks is standard practice.

What documents will I be asked for?

Proof of your identity, proof of your current address and proof of purchase funds.

It is considered best practice is to keep evidence of where all the funds going towards your property purchase have come from. You will also be asked by your solicitor or conveyancer and your mortgage provider once the ball is rolling on your property purchase to provide the same documentation.

Once your offer is accepted, we will: prepare a memorandum of sale, write to all parties to confirm the agreed price, ask you to provide your solicitor’s details (we can provide recommendations) and mortgage broker’s details. You will then need to instruct your solicitor to proceed with the conveyancing process and your mortgage broker to proceed with your application.

Conveyancing

When your offer is accepted, the vendor’s solicitor/conveyancer will prepare a Contract of Sale. Your solicitor will examine the contract, and raise any queries based on the title deeds and related property matters. When your Solicitor has replies to their enquiries, a completed satisfactory local search, a copy of a mortgage offer, a signed contract and a deposit, they can then proceed to Exchange of Contracts. We will be there every step of the way to assist and answer any questions that you may have.

Survey and mortgage offer

A survey of the property will be booked by a surveyor on behalf of the mortgage lender to identify any structural problems and advise on the property’s value. After the mortgage valuation report is received, a formal mortgage offer will be sent to you and your solicitor which you will need to sign before it is returned.

Exchange of contracts

This formal exchange agrees the terms of the sale and makes them legally binding. You’ll need to finalise your mortgage, get a final report from your solicitor, send them your deposit and sign the contract. The completion date is scheduled, usually one-two weeks after exchange.

Completion

Completion is when the funds are transferred from your solicitor to the seller’s solicitor’s account. We will release the keys to you once the money has cleared in the seller’s account. Congratulations, you are now the legal owner of your new home!

 

Fees:

Included as standard:

• Advertising on premium property portals (Rightmove & Zoopla)
• Dedicated team member
• Professional home valuation
• Sales board
• Quality Buyer lead qualification
• Expert Negotiation
• Sales progression
• Floor plans
• Professional photos
• Weekly marketing update calls

 

• £2,000 plus VAT for home up to 2,000 sqft
• £3,000 plus VAT for homes up to 3,000 sqft
• £4,000 plus VAT for homes over 3,000 sqft

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Additional Marketing:

You can choose any of the following to add to your marketing:

• Video – £500 plus VAT (drone included)
• 3D virtual reality tour – £500 plus VAT
• Virtual Staging – £250 plus VAT
• Accompanied Viewings – £250 plus VAT
• Twilight Photography – £100 plus VAT
• Targeted Social Media Campaign – £250 plus VAT – (free with video)
• Journalist Lifestyle Interview – £50 plus VAT
• Bespoke Brochure – £200 plus VAT

We are committed to providing a professional service to all our clients and customers.  When something goes wrong, we need you to tell us about it.  This will help us to improve our standards.

If you have a complaint, please put it in writing, including as much detail as possible.  We will then respond in line with the timeframes set out below (if you feel we have not sought to address your complaints within eight weeks, you may be able to refer your complaint to the Property Ombudsman to consider without our final viewpoint on the matter).

What will happen next?

• We will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of you complaint within three working days of receiving it, enclosing a copy of this procedure.
• We will then investigate your complaint. This will normally be dealt with by the office manager who will review your file and speak to the member of staff who dealt with you.  A formal written outcome of our investigation will be sent to you within 15 working days of sending the acknowledgement letter.
• If, at this stage, you are still not satisfied, you should contact us again and we will arrange for a separate review to take place by a senior member of staff.
• We will write to you within 15 working days of receiving your request for a review, confirming our final viewpoint on the matter.

The Property Ombudsman
Unit 159756
PO Box 7169
Poole
BH15 9EL

You can visit the Property Ombudsman here: https://www.tpos.co.uk/

Please note:

1. You will need to submit your complaint to The Property Ombudsman within 12 months of receiving our final viewpoint letter, including any evidence to support your case.
2. The Property Ombudsman requires that all complaints are addressed through this in-house complaints procedure, before being submitted for an independent review.
3. The Property Ombudsman cannot deal with issues between a landlord and tenant, including deposit disputes.  They will also only deal with any complaints that have been through the above process.