Here’s how to prepare to sell a property in Brentwood – in 5 easy steps!

Can you afford to move?

First of all, you should ask yourself whether you are in a good position to sell your home. If you’re in the middle of your mortgage term, you might have to pay an early repayment charge or fees to transfer that mortgage to a new property. This is known as ‘porting’. You should also see how much you are able to borrow for your new home. If your circumstances have changed since the last time you applied for a mortgage, you may see a difference in that figure. You should also factor in stamp duty and other costs associated with moving.

Prepare your home

Once you are sure that you are able to cover the costs of moving, you should prepare your property for sale. Tackling those odd jobs that you have been putting off will work wonders in the long run. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint on the walls, tending to leaky taps and broken tiles, or fixing guttering that is past its best, every little helps! To get some inspiration for what improvements to make to your home, take a look at other properties in the area or reach out to your local estate agent for advice.

Have a professional valuation

Once your home is ready to be put on the market, it’s time to have it valued. We have years of experience when it comes to valuing homes in Brentwood. One of our estate agents will pay a visit when it’s convenient for you, and will take a really close look around your home. Taking into consideration all that they find and other factors such as your property’s location, they will give you a value that reflects all that it has to offer. This will be a price that they are confident it can attract on the market.

Be realistic

It’s important to be realistic when you sell a property – and having a great relationship with your estate agent will give you a much clearer picture of what to expect. They will tell you how the local property market is faring, and how in demand homes like yours are. They will also put together a strategy for marketing your home, using their local presence and showcasing the property online. Once your home hits the market, you will quickly get an idea of how easy it will be to sell.

Consider the offer

Once you get an offer for your property, it’s vital to take the time to consider it carefully. If you need to move quickly, then it could work well in your favour to accept an offer that sits on the lower end of the scale. On the other hand, if you need to hold out for a certain price, you might be prepared to accept a slower process and turn down a number of offers or a slower process from a buyer in a longer chain. Remember – buyers will often test the water with an offer that is lower than the asking price, so do work with your agent and hold your nerve as you negotiate.

We’re here to help

Selling your home can be a daunting, complex process – but we are here to help. We’ll guide you through the process from start to finish, providing advice backed up by years of experience at every stage.