Key takeaways
You can choose between online agents (lower fees, broader reach) or local agents (better local knowledge, more personal service)
Spring through June is typically peak selling season, with autumn being the second busiest period
Key documents should be prepared early, including property information forms, EPC certificate and mortgage papers
Instruct a conveyancer early - they can start legal work before you accept an offer
Different buyer types affect your sale - cash buyers offer speed, while property chains can cause delays
Selling a house can feel overwhelming, but this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Each stage of selling a home will be explained clearly, so you know what to expect. We’ll provide links to other useful content throughout if you need to learn more about anything specific.
Let’s get into the guide and tackle selling your home.
Selling a home is a big decision, so first, think about whether it’s truly the right decision for you. People sell for different reasons, some include:
Whatever the reason, you’ll go through a similar process when selling your home.
You might also want to consider if staying put and renovating could be a cheaper or better alternative than moving – adding an extension, converting the attic, or digging a basement may cost less than changing properties. Although this won’t be an effective strategy for everyone, it’s worth considering, especially if your goal is to upsize.
Now that you’ve decided to sell, it’s time to get serious about understanding your home’s value. You can get a rough estimate online by looking at what similar houses in your area have previously sold for. This will give you a good sense of market rates, Zoopla is always a good place to start.
However, even your best guess is just an estimate to get the most accurate valuation, have an estate agent come see your home in person.
An estate agent can highlight your property’s unique strengths and selling points, and flag anything you may want to address before listing. Their expertise helps maximise appeal for potential buyers.
It’s time to get your home looking its absolute best for viewings. Give every room a deep clean – it’s easy to overlook things that you’re so accustomed to by living there.
After years in your house, it’s common to accumulate a lot of belongings. Consider decluttering and using some temporary storage if needed. You need to make your home feel as light, airy, and spacious as possible, it's what buyers are looking for.
If a home seems like it needs a lot of work, buyers may try to offer less than your asking price. It’s important to make sure that your home looks its best both inside and out. If you’ve got a driveway or garage and front or back garden, declutter these and mow the lawn, first impressions will make a big difference.
Don't forget to prepare the paperwork to sell your house.
When it comes time to list your home, you have options – using a local agent, an online agent, or even selling on your own without an agent.
If you go it alone, know that it involves a lot of work and isn’t ideal if you lack experience. It’s always safer to go with an estate agent.
The choice between a local or online agent depends on your needs. Selling a home can become complicated, so take time to weigh the options and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You need to find the best fit for you.
Here are some pros and cons of online and local estate agents:
Online agent
Pros:
Cons:
Local estate agent
Pros
Cons
To summarise – online agents provide lower fees and broad digital exposure, while local agents offer specialised community knowledge and in-person support.
There are good reasons to consider either option. The right choice depends on your specific priorities and needs as the seller.
Think about your budget sensitivity and how you prefer to communicate. Research to work out what matters most to you. Then select the option that best fits your situation and needs
When’s the best time to put your house on the market? Generally, early spring through June is peak season – families often want to move before the new school year starts.
Autumn is another busy period, from September to October, as buyers aim to relocate before the holidays hit.
Mid-summer tends to be to slowest time, with many on vacation or just busy whilst the schools are closed.
But your home can sell any time of year – the market varies. Factors like supply and demand in your area also impact price and profit potential.
It’s important to assess your local market, and then make the best call for your situation. The right time to sell looks different for everyone. Focus on making your home appeal to buyers year-round. And remember there are always opportunities if you position yourself well.
A lot happens when you sell your house, and it helps if you prepare some key documents so you’re a few steps ahead. It’s a good idea to have all of this ready when you’re about to sell your house:
Having these ready ensures a smooth process when the time comes. You may need more or fewer documents depending on your situation.
It’s time to instruct a conveyancer if you haven’t already – this can be done before or after accepting an offer on your home. They’ll act on your behalf for the legal work of selling your home.
If buying, you must wait until have an offer accepted to instruct a conveyancer. But since you already own the property you can get the ball rolling sooner, from when your house is on the market.
It’s also important to note that sellers are soon going to be required to provide more information about their property to potential buyers as part of the Upfront Information legislation change. Part A has been released, requiring all property listings to display the property/rental price, council tax band, and tenure information.
Parts B and C are set to be released soon which will cover issues that may stop a buyer viewing a property such as the availability of utilities. It will also cover whether the property is impacted by things such as flood risk, building safety and restrictive covenants.
Instructing a conveyancer soon after listing can give you a head start and prevent delays down the road. Before having a buyer, your conveyancer can:
Getting your conveyancer in place early helps streamline the process later when things get busier. It’s one less thing to worry about.
If you’re looking for a conveyancer to help sell your property, trust Eden. We understand that selling your home can be overwhelming, we’re here to make it simple. Know that support will always be available to guide you through each step and the legal intricacies.
It’s thrilling when offers start coming in for your home but don’t feel rushed to accept the first one. Take time to weigh your options.
Naturally, you’ll focus on the offer amount, but also consider the type of buyer and how they could impact the sale process.
There are three main types of buyers, first-time buyers, buyers in a chain, and cash buyers:
First-time buyers
First-time buyers, whether moving out of rented accommodation or living with their parents, are typically seen as being in a good buying position as they are chain-free. Opting for a buyer without a property chain could speed up the process for you as a seller, resulting in a quicker completion than expected.
Buyers in a chain
Anyone who needs to sell their property to purchase yours is going to be a part of a chain, which could significantly slow down the sale of your property. This chain could be one, or it could be twenty. Typically, the longer the chain, the higher the risk of delays.
Cash buyers
Typically considered the most attractive type of buyer, cash buyers offer speed, certainty, and relatively low hassle. Although you may have to pay the price for this (literally), as cash buyers tend to offer below the asking price in exchange for the quick process.
Once an offer is received, you can formally accept or decline it with your agent’s help. Know that you can also attempt to open negotiations, often a buyer’s first offer is not necessarily their best.
After accepting an offer, you enter the pre-exchange stage where legal work gets underway. Your conveyancer coordinates with the buyer’s conveyancer (and anyone else involved) to progress the sale.
Your conveyancer is there to support you and answer questions during this busy time. They’ll be working hard drafting documents, completing protocol forms, obtaining Title Deeds, and more. It’s also their job to lead negotiations, including:
If you have a mortgage on your current property, then your conveyancer will request a redemption statement from your lender to determine the outstanding amount owed. This informs how much of the house sale proceeds will go to your mortgage provider.
Exchanging contracts is a major milestone. Your conveyancer handles this, submitting your signed contract and receiving the buyer’s duplicate version.
The buyer will pay their deposit (usually 10% of the total transaction or whatever is agreed) to your conveyancer, who will keep the deposit safe and secure until completion.
At this point, you and the buyer become legally bound to the sale. Backing out now would mean forfeiting the deposit and you could face litigations as you would be breaching your contract.
Your conveyancer is there to guide you every step of the way leading up to the exchange and throughout the rest of the selling journey.
By now you’ve likely agreed on a completion date, so it’s time to start planning for the big move as you move closer to that important day.
After years in your home, you’ve probably accumulated a lot – consider hiring removal help. Costs vary based on the distance between your current home and the next, as well as the number of items being transported.
You’re also going to need to prepare your home for the big day. Here’s a checklist that you should consider preparing for:
It’s important to leave your property clean, empty and in the condition agreed upon in the sales contract. Being organised in the lead up to and on move out day reduces stress.
You’ve come a long way to get to this point. Completion day marks the end of your sales journey and the start of your new chapter.
On completion, you’ll hand over the keys and say goodbye forever as the buyers take possession of your new previous home. It marks the end of one journey and the beginning of the next for you.
Leaving your home can be bittersweet. But focus on the exciting parts of the move ahead.
You’ve successfully navigated the sale of your property, and all your hard work has paid off. Congratulations on making it to the end of this road.
Check out our full guide to completion day here to learn more.
Selling your home should be a breeze. At Eden, we take care of the legal side whilst keeping you updated, letting you focus on the exciting parts of your move.
You'll have access to our 24/7 online portal so you can always check on your case and action everything you need from there.
We'll always be there when you need us.
