Selling Process

The selling process

Selling property is far less stressful if you understand the entire process.

 Find out how much your property is worth online or call 01353 661367

Our step-by-step guide to selling your property

1. 

   Step 1 Accurate valuation

   Our expert valuers carry out thousands of valuations every month, giving us intimate and unparalleled knowledge of property values in your area.

   This is why we consistently achieve the asking price across all our clients' properties.

   Call us on 01353 661367 or complete the property valuation request form at the bottom of this page

2. 

   Step 2 Choosing an agent

   When choosing an agent, consider their opening hours, when they will be available to conduct viewings and what kind of marketing your property will receive. These are critical to obtaining the maximum price for your property.

   You should also be aware that if your agent is not organising the government-required Home Information Pack (HIP) (now suspended) for you, this must be ordered before your property is placed on the market.

3. 

   Step 3 Instruct a solicitor

   It is advisable to instruct your solicitor at the same time as choosing your agent.

   This will help to avoid delays and allow time for the collection of necessary documentation involved in transferring ownership of your property to the new buyer (known as conveyancing). Many of these documents should already be included in the HIP (now suspended).

4.  

   Step 4 Maximum exposure

   When you instruct Sand & City Properties to sell your property you will automatically benefit from our unrivalled, comprehensive marketing package.

   Our team of specialist 'Protographers' will, in just one visit, collect all marketing elements for your property including: interactive floorplans, 360° tours, colour photographs and have them live on our website within days, alongside local information, location maps, aerial views and a printable colour brochure.

5. 

    

   Step 5 Viewings

   We're open at times to suit you, convenient for viewing after work and at weekends:

   Our offices are open 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday.   Our phone lines are open 9am-5pm, 6 days a week.

   Our agents are available for longer viewing appointments after these hours - over 40% of viewings are carried out after work and at weekends.

   

6. Step 6 Receiving an offer

   As soon as an offer is received we will notify you both verbally and in writing.

7. 

   Step 7 Agreeing to sell

   Once you have accepted an offer it is important that the following details are agreed:

   Details of any extras included or excluded from the purchase
   Date for buyer's/lender's survey on your property
   Date for exchange of contracts
   Date for completion

   We will advise you and negotiate on your behalf throughout this process, keeping you informed every step of the way.

8. 

   Step 8 Drafting contract and supporting paperwork

   Once an offer has been agreed, your solicitor will send out a draft contract and the HIP (now suspended) for your property to the purchaser's solicitor who in turn carries out preliminary enquiries.

   Your solicitor should collate all the supporting paperwork (where applicable) ie: title deeds, copy of lease, fixtures and fittings list, seller's questionnaire, planning consent, guarantees, copy of building regulations and share of freehold certificate (most of this information should already be contained in the HIP)(since suspended).

9. 

   Step 9 Service charge accounts & building insurance

   In general this is not applicable to freehold properties.

   We recommend that you forward copies of your service charge accounts over the last three years, estimates for the forthcoming year and building insurance certificates to your solicitor the moment you instruct us to market your property. These also need to be added to your HIP (now suspended).

   Alternatively, in the case of apartment blocks, you can ask your solicitor to collect these documents from the Managing Agent.

10. 

     

    Step 10 Exchange of contracts

    Exchange of contracts occurs when all preliminary enquiries from the draft contract and local search queries have been agreed.

    Most buyers require mortgages. Once the mortgage offer has been confirmed, the purchaser is ready to exchange contracts with the seller. The contract is signed by buyer and seller and the deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) is either telegraphically transferred or paid in the form of a banker's draft by the buyer's solicitor. The completion date is set at this stage.

11. 

    Step 11 Completion

    This is generally set a few days to a few weeks after exchange of contracts, depending on the personal requirements of the buyer and seller.

    The residual monies (usually 90%) are transferred from the buyer's solicitor to your solicitor's account.

    Congratulations, you have just sold your property!