The house selling process seems easy right? Put your house on the market, do viewings, get an offer; job done… wrong! Most vendors don’t think about the step after accepting an offer but is one of the most crucial steps in the selling process.
So why it is it important to instruct an agent who will progress your sale right up to completion?
1. The conveyancing process (the bit your solicitor does) This can take approx. 8-12 weeks (this is just a guide, depending on the length of the chain, it could be more or less than that), as a seller, it is essential that you are kept up to date with exactly what is happening throughout that period.
2. Surveys? Mortgage valuations? Searches? What do they even mean? Your agent will have the expertise to explain every complicated word and process so that you don’t even have to ask.
3. Complications As we have all come to know, things don’t always run smoothly, there can be hiccups along the way such as issues on a survey or delays in a chain. Your agent should be chasing the progress of your sale on a weekly basis (at a minimum) and therefore should be able to notify you as soon as an issue arises, so that together you can put a plan of action in place.
4. Delays Agents usually find that the longer a sale continues, the more likely it is to fall through. Having an agent who is always one step ahead of the sale will ensure that delays are minimised were possible and other parties in a chain are chased.
5. Third parties During the transaction, you may have to allow access to your home for surveyors or other contractors, your agent will liaise directly with these third parties so that the stress and hassle for you is minimised as much as possible.
6. Negotiations Your agents job title says it all ‘negotiator’, even though the negotiating part happens when you accept an offer, it doesn’t stop there. You might wish to leave items of furniture or negotiate on some items to be left so you can decide what needs packing up and what can stay.
Although all of that might seem complicated, making sure you instruct an agent that can do all the above, is half the battle. At Milne Moser, we have a team of in-house solicitors who work closely with our agents to ensure that your sale runs seamlessly with communication between two, constant.
As always, contact us with any questions.
Blog by Paige McNaughton MNAEA & MARLA
