Preparing your property for sale
Start by dealing with obvious maintenance issues, decluttering and making the property clean and presentable. Gather important documents and establish whether you already have a valid EPC.
It is also worth speaking to a solicitor early, particularly if your property is leasehold, has been extended or has any unusual legal features.
Freshening up tired or strongly personalised rooms can help, particularly where relatively modest expenditure creates a noticeably better first impression.
Major redecoration purely for a sale is less certain to produce a return. Concentrate on areas that might cause buyers to question how well the property has been maintained.
Repairs, good decoration, lighting, tidying gardens and improving general presentation often provide better value than major building projects immediately before selling.
A new kitchen or extension may make a property more valuable, but it does not necessarily mean you will recover the full cost. Seek advice before undertaking expensive work purely for resale.
Yes, within reason. Decluttering helps rooms appear spacious and allows buyers to concentrate on the property rather than its contents.
The aim should still be for the property to feel like an attractive home rather than an empty showroom.
Very. Most buyers form their first impression online, so photography has a significant influence on whether someone decides to arrange a viewing. You don't need to photograph every room from multiple angles, though. Around 15–20 photographs are normally about right.
A good floor plan helps buyers understand the layout, room relationships and potential of the property before they visit.
Sometimes it's also worth considering video production. At Ashtons, we have our own employed in-house photographer and videographer to ensure both the highest standards of photography and continuity.
In most cases, yes. An Energy Performance Certificate must normally be commissioned before a property is marketed and made available to prospective buyers.
EPCs are generally valid for ten years, so first check whether your property already has a valid certificate.
Useful documents include title information, planning permissions, building regulations approvals, guarantees, warranties, certificates for replacement windows and information relating to extensions or alterations.
We provide all our sellers with a property information pack to complete at their leisure in the period leading up to the formal launch.
Usually, yes. The buyer’s solicitor will need information about the lease, service charges, insurance, management arrangements, planned major works and often a management information pack.
Obtaining this information can take time, so leasehold sellers should begin preparing particularly early.
There can be a considerable advantage in doing so. Your solicitor can verify your identity, obtain title documents and start preparing the contract paperwork before an offer is agreed.
Problems such as missing documents or title irregularities can then be identified while the property is being marketed rather than several weeks into the sale.
