There are two sides to every property sale in Highbury, and the process can be just as stressful for a seller as it is for a buyer. If this is not something you have experienced before, our first-time seller guide will help you prepare to sell your home.

Prepare your property to be sold

You’ll want to prepare your property for sale before it goes on the market, as this will help generate more interest, a faster sale, and a higher offer.

The goal is to set the stage so that viewers can more easily imagine themselves living in the property when they look around. This means decluttering the property and cleaning and repairing any outstanding issues.

Repaint the walls with neutral colours, creating a blank canvas for viewers to work with. Tidy up the front of the property to add some kerb appeal.

If you have the money available, you could also invest in refurbishing key areas of the property, such as the kitchen or bathroom, as prospective buyers examine these rooms closely. If funds stretch that far, you could go even further by adding an extension or converting the loft, as this could add thousands of pounds to the property value.

Costs to consider

When you are selling there are some costs you will need to factor in. These include:

• Conveyancing fees

You will need to hire a conveyancer or property solicitor to handle the legal aspects of the sale. Fees will vary depending on the size of your home.

• Estate agent fees

Be sure to ask estate agents what they charge for their services. The average cost is usually between 1% and 2.5% + VAT, depending on the final selling price of your home.

• Final utility bills

Before you move out of the property, you will have to settle the full amount due on your utility bills. It’s a good idea to contact your providers early so you know roughly how much the cost might be rather than being landed with large bills at the last minute.

Sell your property in Highbury with Stadium Residential

At Stadium Residential, we know how hard you work to sell your home and how stressful it can be at times. We’re experts at selling property in Highbury and abide by industry guidelines set by Property Mark, providing a professional service that can help you maximise the value of your property.

We offer prospective sellers a free property valuation, giving them a much better idea of how much they could sell their property for. Combined with our specialist market knowledge and extensive marketing services, we’ll give them the best possible chance of making a quick sale at a high price.

Hire a conveyancing solicitor

As mentioned above, you should hire a conveyancer or property solicitor early, ideally before putting the property onto the market.

They will serve as your representative when negotiating the finer legal details of the sale and ensure that the contract doesn’t contain any hidden surprises. The conveyancer will oversee managing the property searches and handling the transfer of funds from the buyer to yourself, including the initial deposit and the remaining money on completion day.

Accepting an offer

When it comes to accepting an offer, you should also consider the buyer’s circumstances rather than just the amount of money they are willing to commit.

Find out if they are involved in a chain or if they can pay with cash. They may also have a ‘mortgage in principle’ that indicates securing a loan for the property shouldn’t be an issue.

Also, think about your own situation. If you need to sell quickly, you may not want to waste time negotiating or waiting for a better offer. If you’re not happy with the level of the offer, you could ask them to raise it or wait for another buyer to come in with a better one.

Arranging a moving date

It’s a good idea to plan ahead with your moving date. Once the contracts have been exchanged, you’ll then set a completion date, which is the day legal and physical ownership of the property is handed over to the buyer.

You may prefer to move out ahead of the completion date once it has been set rather than dealing with the finalisation of the sale at the same time. Get a few quotes from removal firms and compare not only their price but also their overall services to see which one provides better value.

Exchange of contracts and completion

You exchange contracts when you are legally committed to the sale and, likewise, to the buyer. The exchange will only happen once the conveyancer is satisfied with all the information provided by the buyer’s conveyancer.

If you are happy to proceed, the buyer must transfer the initial deposit (around 10%), which is sent to you via your conveyancer. Should a buyer pull out at this stage, they risk losing their entire deposit.