Your Complete Selling Guide

Prepare your home for sale

Our agents can have your property listed and ready for viewing in around 3 days, so here are some tips to get your home prepared for the selling journey.

Minimalise clutter

Most buyers prefer to imagine their future in the property that they're viewing and staging your home as a blank canvas enables them to do this. By placing personal items (such as family photos) into storage for the time being, your home will have the perfect opportunity to show off its personality for you.

Let the light in

Warmer lighting can add to the ambience of a room by giving it a sense of serenity whereas brighter lighting may give it a more modern aesthetic and feel. Whichever works for the room, lighting can greatly enhance the viewers' experience of your property.

Refresh those walls

A fresh coat of paint can help stage that blank canvas for your viewers, especially if you stick to neutral tones such as white and cream. Alternatively, an off-white colour with a dash of pink, grey or blue can give your property a more modern feel. It will also demonstrate to viewers that your home is well-maintained and cared for.

Fix it up

We understand that some wear and tear in your property is inevitable but now might be the time to fix that broken lock. Potential buyers will be analysing your property in order to establish what price to offer and they could use these small things in their negotiations.

Look out for broken locks and door handles, fill in any holes, mend broken tiles, replace tattered carpets and clean any scuffs on the walls. Give your home some TLC in its final weeks of being yours.

Garden appeal

Your garden, whether large or small, has the power to sway potential buyers into into your home. Whilst the Home Owners Alliance suggests that gardens don't have a huge impact on the value of a home, they are the perfect way to demonstrate to potential buyers the love and care that your home has been shown.

Simple steps such as trimming the hedges, jet washing the patio and cutting the grass can make a real difference.

 

Invest in your sale

There’s always time to consider potentially increasing the value of your home. Whilst these bigger upgrades are completely optional, they can make a huge difference to your property.

Update your kitchen

A kitchen will be one of the main rooms buyers are interested in, and a modern kitchen can add up to 6% value to your home*.

We understand that this job may seem too big for a seller, however, you can modernise your kitchen in a few simple ways too. Try replacing old-style taps and cupboard doors and handles. Maybe even consider replacing countertops to give the room a modern feel.

Bathroom cleanliness

Second to the kitchen, your bathroom will be another deciding factor in a buyer decision. Modernising your bathroom can add up to a further 6% of the value of your home*.

Again, refurbishing an entire bathroom can be a large job, however, you can freshen the space up by just a new coat of paint, washing shower curtains and bath mats, retouching grouted tiles and installing a new toilet seat.

Finish major works

If you have unfinished larger projects such as extensions or conversions, it might be helpful to collate the relevant information such as surveys, drawings, plans and planning permission documentation. These can then be discussed with potential buyers and will be ready to eventually hand over to the new owner after your sale has completed.

Prepare your finances

Assessing your financial situation and preparing your financial documentation will put you in a good position when it comes to your onward property search. Keeping your proof of funds together, ready to provide to your solicitor and the agent selling your onward purchase will speed up the process and show your commitment. For extra peace of mind, why not arrange to have a free no-obligation chat with one of our Mortgage Advisers to ensure that you're in the best possible position to proceed.

Arrange a valuation

Get a feel for how much your property might be worth by arranging to meet one of our local agents either in person or via an online market valuation. Our experts will estimate how much your property is worth by, amongst other things, comparing similar properties in your local area.

 

Market your property

At Wards, we pride ourselves on our premium marketing. With modern and effective marketing techniques, we are sure to set your property apart from the crowd.

Premium photography

Our photographers are committed to providing our customers with a premium photography service. The combination of their experience and the equipment utilised will ensure that your home is marketed in the best possible light.

Virtual Tours

Our Virtual Reality Tours are a perfect way to showcase your home. Giving potential buyers the option to view a 3D tour from the comfort of their own home, can help entice them into yours. 

Marketing Brochures

We compile all of the relevant information regarding your property, such as floor plans, photos, room dimensions, local information, and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating into a neat and tidy brochure.

Viewings and open houses

Our expert agents are trained to market your property in every way possible. Open houses are the perfect opportunity to create a competitive energy. Viewing slots are booked in succession over a certain time slot and our agents will utilise the buzz to encourage as many offers for your property as they can. Ultimately, with the aim of achieving you the best possible price.

Homewise: Home for Life

At Wards, we are partnered with Homewise to enable our customers to double the amount of exposure their property receives. You will receive a second listing on Rightmove and Zoopla designed for over-60s, resulting in your home being seen by even more potential buyers at no extra charge!

Online portals

In addition to your property being marketed on our own website, Wards work with the country’s biggest online portals: Prime Location, Rightmove, On The Market and Zoopla. With extensive marketing across all of these sites, your home will be shown to a large range of potential buyers.

Sorting your mortgage

If you are also purchasing a property, or are just after some financial advice, Wards, through their sister company Mortgage Matters Direct, can you help in a number of ways:

• Financial advice – Our in-house Mortgage Advisers can help streamline your budget and look at ways of saving you money. They’ll also give you a good idea of what’s available to you taking your affordability into account. Then, when you’re ready to proceed…
• Mortgage advice – Wards has a fleet of expert in-house Mortgage Advisers ready to give you impartial advice and get you the best possible deal. Whilst you’re busy house-hunting, they can obtain a mortgage agreement in principle which will stand you in good stead if you want to make an offer. They will then take care of arranging and progressing your mortgage when the time comes.

With Mortgage Matters Direct, you really are in the best hands but why not see that for yourself, by checking out what some of their customers have to say on Trustpilot.

Sort the conveyancer

Wards also work alongside no-sale no-fee conveyancers who we can wholeheartedly recommend. We have developed excellent and long-standing relationships with these conveyancers due to the consistently high standard of service that they have provided to our customers. They will guide you through the legalities associated with selling your home. We would always recommend using the same conveyancer for your sale and purchase for continuity as well as the potential to save you money.

That’s it – we hope you've found this guide helpful and informative. As always, Wards is here to help you move forward on your life’s journey – why not pop into your local branch, contact us online  or give us a call on 0800 854 499 to speak to a local expert today. We'd love to hear from you. 

*Add up to 6% value on your home!

**Correct as of December 2022