Moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do. Even if you are not moving, selling a second home or a property that you used to rent can still be daunting.

Valuation

The first thing to establish is what the property is worth. As with anything that you have valued, you should get three quotes. This will give you an understanding of the market. Estate agents will come and complete a no obligation valuation for you in order to win your business, so this stage shouldn’t cost you anything.

Research

Carrying out research on similar properties, or properties that have recently sold along your road, is far easiest online, but local property supplements and estate agent’s windows can also give you an insight into the current state of the market. Information on the actual prices that properties around your area were recently sold for can be found online. Land Registry records can be accessed and the Electoral Roll can provide you with this information.

Market

Putting the property onto the market is the next stage. Most sellers favour spring and summer when the property and its gardens can be seen in their best light. If you are working full-time then the long summer evenings will give prospective buyers more time to view the property. But if you need to sell your city centre home, then you shouldn’t wait.

Estate Agents

Whether you are selling in London, Liverpool or Manchester estate agents are the traditional method used by most people. They can save you time and stress. They only ask for a commission once the sale of the property has gone through. An agent also gives you a go-between when dealing with negotiations and an advisor if the property is not gaining the interest you hoped it would.

Choosing an Agent

Don’t just choose the agent that’s offering the highest valuation, as they may not be offering a realistic assessment of your home. You should compare the fees each agent is charging and ask them what they do to generate interest in your property. Checking testimonials from previous customers will give you an insight into whether you can work with them or not and you should always check the contract to see if you are committing to pay the agent even if you replace them with a different one during the contractual period. Once you have an agent you should stay in regular contact with them to make sure they are working on your behalf to attract prospective buyers.

Final Word

You can go it alone and sell your property without the aid of an estate agent. You avoid paying commission, but you will have to organise and pay for advertising the sale. This form of selling also leaves you to negotiate with the buyer, or the buyer’s agent, and it leaves the viewings and enquiries for you to deal with. For these reasons it should only be considered if you have the time to dedicate to it.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour, specialist Manchester city centre estate agents.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour (http://www.shepherdgilmour.com), Manchester estate and letting agents.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour, specialist Manchester city centre estate agents.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: estate agents, letting agents, property to buy, property for sale