A Guide to selling

Choose the right estate agency

By using a reliable estate agency you will have a better chance of a smooth ride and at the very least, you can be rest assured that you will be kept informed of any developments in your sale that cowboy companies will simply try to avoid. A well established company will be able to provide you with assistance from the beginning of the process through to exchange and will keep regular communication with all parties involved.

Less is occasionally more

When you find an agent make sure you do not get lured in by a high property valuation as it may be inaccurate and you will ultimately be unable to sell at an unrealistically demanding price. Always check out fees and also take into account the agency's reputation.

Time for a spring clean?

A clean house is a saleable house. The majority of viewers will base their interest on your property on their first impressions rather than attempting to see the potential of a house. This means it is essential for anyone selling a property to clear out clutter, repair leaks, chipped paint, make the windows sparkle, hoover and do all of the small DIY jobs that you have been meaning to do for ages. Always remember that potential buyers are likely to check out the storage space so store your belongings elsewhere rather than simply throwing them in the loft or the back of a cupboard!

Play the numbers game

Make your property appealing to the majority by painting the walls in neutral colours that make the rooms look larger and try to pull back from your own style and look at the bigger picture when it comes to storing away your favourite kitsch armchair or old rugs.

Go green

Any garden or land should be spruced up by cutting the lawn and pulling weeds. Invest in a handful of pots and fill them with brightly coloured flowers and lay extra stones or gravel in trouble bald spots. This will make a massive difference to the appearance of the property and as a garden or driveway is often the first part of the property a potential buyer will see, it is vital to ensure that it is at the bare minimum clean and tidy.

Property descriptions and photographs

Ensure that the photographs that appear with your listing are bright and attractive as this is what will be used to draw buyers in for a viewing. The description should lure them in as well so make sure that it reads well and speak up if you want it amended.

Speculate to accumulate

It may not seem like a new tap washer to stop a drip or a lick of paint on the window sills will make such a difference but experience proves that it does. Spending a little now will ultimately earn you more money as the fewer faults a potential purchaser can find, the less chance they have to pull your asking price down. A buyer can destroy your morale and pick a property to shreds if they continuously find problems with a property so take away their fuel and they will be less able and inclined to argue about the price tag.

The property tour

No matter how tempting it is to be around to give the tour of the property to interested parties it is always advisable to stay out of the way and let an estate agent do their job, This is the part of the service offered by estate agents that allows them to come into their own and prove their worth and a personable, well informed and pleasant agent will be able to interest buyers with far more accuracy than you can.


Selling a house is full of twists and turns including getting your property ready to go onto the market, completing valuations, hosting viewings, finding a reliable estate agent, trusting your agent to handle legal paperwork from the solicitors, communicating with interested parties and agents, completing the exchange and in the end selling your property. When selling a property the best advice is to tackle the procedure one step at a time and be prepared that the chain may break through no fault of yours or your agents meaning you have to dust yourself off and start the process all over again.