Buying and selling can be a stressful experience, but by following these guidelines you can get the best out of your purchase and sale.
Buying and selling a property can be stressful, but by being organised and working well with your agent, the process can be a lot smoother. Indeed, putting some work in before you have decided to either buy or sell will pay dividends later on down the line and help you get the best out of your purchase and sale.
Firstly, if youโre selling, tidy up your property and get round to doing those cosmetic improvements that are often left by the wayside. Whether youโre buying or selling, it is important to have a realistic budget in place, and itโs advisable to do some research around the areas in which you wish to move, so you know what you can afford. Both the Land Registry and the Rightmove House Price Index are great places to start. However, if you are struggling, you can talk to an agent before you even know what your budget is โ they can help guide you and, as the experts, will offer you sound advice.
Moreover, in todayโs market, itโs also handy to get your mortgage agreed in principle before you start your search. Again, if you are struggling, your agent should be able to recommend a financial advisor. At Winkworth, we work closely withย Trinity Financialย who can explain the process to you and provide you with the best deals and products on the market. Once youโve established what you want, youโre in a good position to get started with your move.
Itโs going to work massively in your favour if you have a good relationship with your estate agent. This can be achieved largely by being transparent. Estate agents can efficiently do their jobs and guarantee your sale or purchase if youโre up front about your budget and you work closely with them, letting them know your expectations and giving them both positive and negative feedback on the properties you see. If you are open with your estate agent about your requirements, it will make it easier for them to find you your new home.
Trusting your estate agent is vital. They will have sold and helped people buy a myriad properties, and will be the experts not just on the property market, but also the areas in which youโre buying or selling. Itโs important to keep in mind that both yours and your agentโs ultimate goal is working towards your purchase or sale. With this in mind, itโs a good idea to listen to your agentโs feedback. This will not only come from their experience, it will also come from potential buyers, so if they suggest areas of improvement, take this advice on board because it can help make your sale. You should also ask your agent how they plan to market your property, so that you are aware of how your agent fees are being reinvested. Your home should be advertised on property portals such as Rightmove, social media platforms like Facebook and in magazines and newspapers.
The recent market fluctuations the UK has experienced due to the SDLT changes, the 2016 General Election and the referendum, has meant that estate agents need to be cannier than ever. Moreover, in the modern world, it can be hard to keep in touch with friends and family, never mind your estate agent. This is why Winkworth have created our Sellersโ Portal. The Sellersโ Portal is a hub of information that provides important analytics on your sales purchase. It has a calendar of viewings, as well as feedback and progress reports, from mortgage offers through to completion. This service is easy to access from any device and keeps you up to date on the progress of your sale. The aim of the portal is to make the sales process as transparent and comprehensive as possible, whilst enabling vendors to have the choice of how much interaction they have with their estate agent during the process.