Things to Think About Before Selling Your House*

From watching endless property programs with my mum on the mornings she isn’t working I know it’s finally a good time to put your house on the market. A few years ago the property market crashed and people have been waiting every since to try and sell their homes. Before getting started you should work out how much you’ll have to play with when buying a new house. For this I recommend using something like Mortgage Calculator UK. Although it may be a better time to put your house on the market, it still isn’t an easy process and if you are looking for a quick sale there are a few things to consider, such as who you’re going to sell it through, will you market it yourself, does your house need some home improvements? Like everything in this day and age, the housing market is a competitive place.

So here are a few things to consider before you put up your house for sale sign;

What Kind of a House Are You Selling?
Is it a ready to move in house, or does it need some work? Do you have all the correct documentation for the rooms and any extensions you’ve built? Have you acquired any additional prior planning permission you can hand over to the new home owners? Is it a family home, or somewhere to retire. Making sure you market your house towards the right demographic could help towards a quick sale.

Are You Going to Do Some Work Before Selling?
Maybe you feel like your house is unique to you with bright colour walls, decals.. and maybe you feel it would sell better if you gave the new home owners a blank canvas. Or perhaps there are a few things that need replacing such as window shutters, or fencing outside, a couple of taps in the bathroom, just small things that you’d never think of replacing until they’re completely damaged but you know could affect you house sale. If you do decide to do some work, try and pick decoration that is neutral such as plantation shutters for the window, not everyone is going to have a the same taste as you.

Is Your House Looking It’s Best?
If you’re trying to sell a house to move to somewhere with more space it’s hard to get around the idea of your house looking like it’s full of stuff, because your whole reason for moving is so all your stuff fits better. However it’s been suggested that minimalistic houses sell faster as it’s easy for a potential buyer to imagine where their own stuff is going to go. It might be hard to make your house look more minimalistic but ensuring everything is tidied up, all dishes are done and washing put away is actually a great start.

How Fast Can You Move Out?
It’s entirely possible that you could put your house on the market and find it’s snapped up straight away. The new owners could want your home ASAP and you need to decide if you’ll be ready to move out should this be the case. If you need to find a new house to buy it’s worth going over your own budget and speaking to you bank to see if they’ll happily put up a mortgage for you. Getting into a chain can actually delay the process. I have known family members who have been stuck in the middle of a chain where the person they are buying from doesn’t want to move quickly but the person buying their house does. Be aware of all the complications that could go along with the actual moving process and if you aren’t able to move quickly make sure your estate agent is aware before they put your house on the market.

Who Are You Going to Sell With?
Finally, who are you going to sell your house with can be a tricky question. If you’re going for an estate agent remember there are fees involved and you won’t walk away with the total worth of your house. Nowadays this isn’t the only option though as there are websites online that can advertise your home for you. The Guardian did a great piece about selling your home online and how it can work out so much cheaper than going with a traditional estate agent! It’s definitely worth looking into but it can be a gamble as you won’t have someone to discuss things with face to face.

I can’t recommend selling with a local estate agent enough no matter where you live in the world. If you live Stateside perhaps look into how to list your home with a Knoxville real estate agent.

Although selling your house and moving into a new one can be an exciting time, there is a lot to consider and a lot of stress to attach, so if 2018 is your year, good luck!